Star batter Babar Azam is back in Pakistan's 16-man squad to face world champions Australia in the three-match ODI series starting next week, selectors said Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Azam missed the away series in Bangladesh with a fitness issue in March, but scored 588 runs in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this month to stage a comeback.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to captain the side, with Salman Ali Agha named vice-captain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The squad sees the return of Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan -- also missing from the Bangladesh tour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqim stages a comeback in the ODI squad after finishing as the highest wicket taker in the PSL 2026 with 22.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fast bowler Ahmed Daniyal, spinning allrounder Arafat Minhas and wicketkeeper batter Rohail Nazir are selected in the ODI squad for the first time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Experienced openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub will miss the series with injuries, while senior wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan is dropped.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Australian team will arrive in Islamabad on May 23 and play the matches in Rawalpindi (May 30) and Lahore (June 2 and 4).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The series will give both teams a chance to build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan's Test team returned home after suffering a shock 2-0 defeat in Bangladesh on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n