After England Tests, PCB to rest Babar Azam & Shaheen Afridi for Zimbabwe Tour

Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi are likely to be rested for the upcoming white-ball tour of Zimbabwe. The star cricketers were recently rested by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the last two Tests against England. Despite their and Naseem Shah’s absence, Pakistan were able to beat England in the 2nd Multan Test. That has inspired the PCB to rest them once again.

Yes for Australia, No for Zimbabwe

According to Cricket Pakistan, the move will help them test their bench strength and give opportunity to young and promising. 4-5 players are expected to rest, two of whom will be Babar and Shaheen. The duo is expected to take part in the Australia white-ball tour (November 4 to 18), which consists of 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is, but they won’t travel to Zimbabwe. The final decision will be taken later today (October 20) after one final meeting.

Enough practice for ICC Champions Trophy

Pakistan are scheduled to play 14 ODIs before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. That’s a significant number, and despite missing three ODIs against Zimbabwe, both Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi should have enough practice for Pakistan’s first ICC tournament at home in 28 years.

Rizwan—Pakistan’s new white-ball captain?

Mohammad Rizwan is also expected to take over from Babar Azam as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. Right now, the wicketkeeper captain is one of the few undroppable players in all three formats, and it makes sense to name Rizwan as the limited-overs skipper. If named captain for the Australia tour, he won’t be one of the senior players rested for the Zimbabwe tour and will lead them against the Chevrons.