Is Babar Azam Making His T20I Return Against South Africa?

As the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) deliberates over the team combination for the upcoming three-match T20I home series against South Africa, insiders suggest a familiar name could earn a recall, with Babar Azam likely to be part of the squad.

According to several insiders, including Qadir Khwaja, all signs point toward the former captain’s return, although nothing is set in stone yet.

Babar Azam’s T20I future has been the subject of debate for months. The 31-year-old hasn’t played a single T20I since December 2024, with Mike Hesson preferring other options since taking over white-ball coaching duties. However, his absence has not led to any notable improvement in the team’s batting performances. Pakistan continues to struggle in the middle order, where frequent collapses have become a common sight. The team’s shortcomings in the 2025 Asia Cup only strengthened the case for Babar’s return, with reports claiming selectors even considered calling him up midway through the tournament.

With Pakistan looking to build a solid team combination for the T20 World Cup, where challenging batting conditions are expected, Babar Azam could once again be the anchor of Pakistan’s batting lineup.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam may not be the only big name returning to Pakistan’s squad for the T20I series against South Africa. Reports suggest that Naseem Shah is also likely to be included, especially if Shaheen Afridi is rested for the series.

The three-match T20I series will begin on October 28 in Rawalpindi, followed by two games at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. All eyes are now on the squad announcement, with fans eagerly awaiting to see who makes the cut.