Pakistan ready to leave for West Indies ODI series as Babar Azam returns to squad

Pakistan’s ODI squad is set to depart from Karachi on Thursday for the United States, where they will begin their white-ball tour against the West Indies.

Star batter Babar Azam will be part of the traveling group, marking his return to international cricket for the first time since April this year, when he played against New Zealand. Other key players traveling include Naseem Shah, Mohammad Rizwan, and Abdullah Shafique.

Babar, however, is not part of Pakistan's T20I plans at the moment. His last appearance in the shortest format came in December 2024 against South Africa. Mohammad Rizwan, who will lead the ODI side, also last featured in T20Is during that same series.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s T20I squad has already started their preparations in the USA ahead of the three-match series against the West Indies. The team held a high-intensity three-hour training session at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.

The session included warm-ups, fielding drills, net practice, and skill-based routines for both batters and bowlers. The coaching staff closely supervised the players, focusing on improving execution and match readiness.

Salman Ali Agha will lead the T20I squad, while Mohammad Rizwan will take over the captaincy for the ODI leg of the tour, which begins on August 8 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.

Pakistan recently played a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, which they lost 2-1. That series was the second assignment for white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who began his role with a 3-0 T20I series win against Bangladesh at home in May.

Pakistan T20I squad:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem

Pakistan ODI squad:

Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem

Series schedule:

• 31 July – 1st T20I vs West Indies, Lauderhill, USA
• 2 August – 2nd T20I vs West Indies, Lauderhill, USA
• 3 August – 3rd T20I vs West Indies, Lauderhill, USA
• 8 August – 1st ODI vs West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago
• 10 August – 2nd ODI vs West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago
• 12 August – 3rd ODI vs West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago