Pakistan Rebuilds: Shaheen Afridi Returns to White-Ball Squads While Hasan Nawaz Joins ODI Lineup

Pakistan continue their restructuring under coach Mike Hesson—with major moves that signal a clear focus on balancing experience and youth. The West Indies white-ball tour (July–August 2025) brings one of the boldest selections yet: pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi returns to both T20I and ODI squads, while Hassan Nawaz, the rising wicketkeeper-batter, earns his first-ever ODI call-up. Let’s unpack what this means.

Afridi’s Comeback to Pakistan Setup

• Shaheen was previously absent from Pakistan’s T20I and ODI line-ups, following a period of poor form and rotation decisions by selectors.
• His return to both squads signals renewed confidence in his fitness and skill, particularly given his impactful recent PSL season leading Lahore Qalandars to a third title.
• While earlier T20I squad revamps saw Shaheen and veterans like Babar Azam and Rizwan dropped ⁣in favour of fresh combinations, this comeback represents a recalibration ahead of key ICC tournaments.

Hasan Nawaz: Maiden ODI Call-Up After T20I Rise

• Hasan Nawaz, a 22-year-old wicketkeeping batter, breaks into Pakistan’s ODI squad for the first time. He already made a mark in March’s New Zealand T20I series—scoring a fastest-ever 105 off 45 balls, Pakistan’s fastest T20I ton.
• Despite early failures (two ducks), his resilience and power-hitting propelled him to a historic innings. This explosive performance earned praise and paved the way for elevation into the 50-over setup.

Pakistan Squads for West Indies Tour

T20I Squad Highlights:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Omair Bin Yousuf, Jahandad Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan

ODI Squad Highlights:
Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam‑ul‑Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Nawaz

Implications of These Selections

Leadership & Experience

• Shaheen’s return brings pace and international pedigree to white-ball sides. Despite his omission from earlier squads, he remains a ranked No. 1 ODI bowler in ICC charts for his recent exploits.

Youth Injection & Talent Transition

• Hasan Nawaz symbolizes Pakistan’s push to infuse fresh blood. His explosive T20I ton showed poise and power under pressure, and now he’ll test his adaptability in the longer white-ball format.

Strategic Timing

• With the West Indies tour featuring 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is (31 July–12 August 2025), this squad blend gives Pakistan an opportunity to groom youngsters while leveraging veterans in key roles.

Tactical Outlook: What to Expect

• T20I window: Expect Shaheen to lead the pace unit, supported by Rauf, Hasan Ali. Hasan Nawaz will likely open or bat at No. 5 depending on team balance.
• ODI plan: Nad Nawaz offers power at top-order, while Shaheen brings pace punch. Rizwan continues to lead, with Shadab Khan offering spin depth.

Mixed Signals: Format-Specific Strategy

• Pakistan’s white-ball squads have undergone radical revamps recently. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were omitted from T20Is earlier this year, marking a strategic shift in focus. Shaheen was left out of ODIs for New Zealand series, but now recalled for West Indies—highlighting format-specific selection philosophy.

Pakistan is crafting a transitional era: Shaheen Afridi’s return injects much-needed experience and firepower, while Hasan Nawaz’s call-up highlights the team’s forward-looking vision. As Pakistan boards for the West Indies tour, this combination of youth and tested heads could set the tone for future campaigns, especially the Asia Cup 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026 preparation.

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