As the countdown to the T20I World Cup enters its final stages, Pakistan has opted for a bold, experimental approach for their upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. With several star players are currently committed to the Big Bash League (BBL), the national selectors have used this window to test bench strength and welcome back key assets.
The headline news for Pakistan fans is the return of star all-rounder Shadab Khan. After undergoing surgery to address a recurring right shoulder injury following the Bangladesh series in June, Shadab successfully completed his rehabilitation.
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He recently proved his fitness in the BBL with the Sydney Thunder and is now set to provide vital veteran experience to a youthful squad.
The squad features a maiden call-up for 23-year-old Khawaja Nafay. The hard-hitting batter and part-time wicketkeeper has impressed in the Abu Dhabi T10 and for the Pakistan Shaheens, boasting a T20I strike rate of 132.81.
To facilitate this experimental lineup, players like Nafay, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz will leave their respective Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchises mid-tournament to join the national side in Dambulla.
Under the continued leadership of Salman Agha, this series serves as a critical audition. While stalwarts like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are rested, the door has opened for top-order batter Abdul Samad and pacer Salman Mirza to stake their claims. Mirza, in particular, will lead the seam attack alongside Naseem Shah, competing for a permanent spot in the World Cup roster.
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The series kicks off on January 7 in Dambulla. With only one subsequent home series against Australia remaining before the World Cup begins in February, these three matches represent a final opportunity for Pakistan to finalize their combinations and build momentum.
Pakistan squad for T20I series vs Sri Lanka
Salman Agha (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq