In a surprising turn of events, Pakistan cricket has reshuffled its white-ball squads just before their home series against Sri Lanka and a tri-nation T20I event. Young batter Hasan Nawaz has been released from national duty to focus on the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which resumes on November 11. This decision opens up an opportunity for the comeback of flamboyant opener Fakhar Zaman into the T20 International side.
While a direct replacement for Hasan Nawaz in the ODI squad has not been announced, Fakhar Zaman’s inclusion in the T20I squad marks his return to the shortest format since the Asia Cup 2025 final. The 33-year-old has a history of impactful performances and will look to regain his rhythm. His recent ODI stint against South Africa saw him accumulate 45 runs over three matches, including a couple of dismissals for zero.
The packed white-ball schedule for Pakistan includes a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi from November 11-15. Subsequently, the team will compete in a tri-nation T20I series involving Zimbabwe, running from November 17 to 29 across Rawalpindi and Lahore. These series are crucial for Pakistan’s preparations and will offer a strong test of their squad depth and strategy.