Pakistan Name Australia ODI Squad Without Rizwan

Pakistan have made a bold call ahead of the upcoming home assignment against Australia, leaving experienced wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan out of the 16-man squad. The decision, confirmed by the PCB on Friday, instantly became the biggest talking point around the camp.

The selectors have instead backed a slightly reshaped group under captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who continues to lead the side after Pakistan’s recent ODI tour of Bangladesh. Senior names are back in the frame too. Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Muqeem all returned after missing that series earlier in the year.

At the same time, Pakistan handed opportunities to several younger faces. Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas and Rohail Nazir were all included despite still waiting for their first ODI appearance. Rohail’s selection became even more significant after Rizwan’s omission from the squad.

That one change flipped everything around the wicketkeeping debate.

Youngster Muhammad Ghazi Ghori also kept his place after debuting during the Bangladesh tour. He now joins Rohail as one of the specialist wicketkeeping options in the Pakistan ODI squad for Australia.

Usman Khan, who remained under consideration, could not make the cut after illness ruled him out before selection discussions were finalised.

Fresh Faces, Big Pressure Before Australia Arrive

Pakistan will also miss injured opening pair Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub. Both players continue rehabilitation under the PCB medical panel, leaving management with another selection headache before the series begins.

The squad gathers in Islamabad tonight before training starts on May 23 under head coach Mike Hesson. Australia are due to arrive the same day ahead of the opening ODI in Rawalpindi on May 30. The remaining matches will be played in Lahore on June 2 and June 4.

The pressure around this series already feels heavy. Australia’s last ODI tour of Pakistan came in 2022 when the hosts secured a 2-1 win. Since then, Pakistan have also produced a T20I clean sweep over Australia in Lahore, something fans still talk about with excitement.

Now attention shifts back to the reshaped Pakistan ODI squad and whether the Rizwan decision pays off once the action begins. 

Pakistan ODI Squad For Australia Series

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Babar Azam, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Maaz Sadaqat, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Naseem Shah, Rohail Nazir, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain and Sufiyan Muqeem.