Babar Azam welcomed by fans at Melbourne airport

Babar Azam received an enthusiastic reception upon his arrival in Australia, despite recent struggles with his batting form. The former captain was among the first to join the touring party and was greeted by fans eager for photos and well-wishes. After a brief absence from international cricket, having been omitted from the last two matches against England in home series, Babar aims to regain his form in the upcoming three ODIs and three T20Is before resting for the Zimbabwe series.

The rest of the Pakistan squad is expected to arrive soon, with training set to begin on November 1 ahead of the first ODI on November 4. Members of the Pakistan ODI squad arrived in Melbourne earlier today for their upcoming series against Australia, with the remaining players scheduled to depart today, according to a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with newly appointed white-ball captain Muhammad Rizwan and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha, extending his best wishes and emphasizing the honor of leading the national team. PCB announced squads for their upcoming Australia and Zimbabwe tours, with key players returning and emerging domestic stars making the cut.

Pakistan’s white-ball cricket squads will play three ODIs and three T20Is each on their November-December tours. The team will face Australia from November 4 to 18, then head to Zimbabwe for matches from November 24 to December 5. These tours are seen as pivotal preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy, with selectors balancing experienced players and new talent in their strategy.