Reserve batsman Fakhar Zaman, who has been out with a knee injury, will also travel to Brisbane with Afridi.
Pakistan beat Bangladesh, set up first ever Asia Cup final date against India
White-ball specialist Rauf will return to Pakistan colours after incurring the wrath of the nation's cricket board for opting out of the ongoing three-Test series against Australia.
Salman Ali Agha top scored for Pakistan as they snatched a last-over victory over South Africa on Tuesday in an exciting finish to the first of three One Day Internationals at Faisalabad.
Pakistan made short work of an inexperienced UAE batting unit by winning their last group league game by 41 runs in Dubai on Wednesday.
Former captain Babar Azam, pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah returned to the Pakistan team for the upcoming white-ball series in Australia.
Following his removal from the committee, Riaz took to X and wrote, 'There is a lot I can say but I don't want to be part of the blame games.'
Having pulled off a thrilling win over Bangladesh, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha said such victories make him believe it is a "special team" and added his side has the quality to beat anyone, including India, in the Asia Cup final.
Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim also returned to the World Cup squad after recovering fully from a side strain he suffered during the Asia Cup.
This final was filled with unusual happenings, and one that will stand out is India coach Gautam Gambhir seen smiling for a change!
With stars Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan sidelined, it will be a test of character for the Salman Agha-led Pakistan side.
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Pakistan captain Babar Azam and his deputy Mohammad Rizwan were looking to get some batting practice but were forced off the ground as the rain stopped play in the third over.
Former captain Babar Azam and pacer Naseem Shah have been recalled to Pakistan's T20 squad for the upcoming home assignment against South Africa and a tri-Series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe next month.
Former captain Shahid Afridi is confident that Pakistan will again reach the final of the T20 World Cup, but expressed apprehension about the batters' sluggish strike rate in the middle overs.
'Yaar main soch raha hu aapki tarah bas batting shuru kar du, ek haath se chhakke lagaau...'
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has started working on an alternate plan as serious doubts have arisen over Afghanistan's participation in an upcoming T20 Tri-Series amid military conflict between the two countries.
'My wife told that there were only 10 percent Pakistani fans in the stadium and the rest 90 percent were Indians.'
Former champions Pakistan begin their Asia Cup campaign in an August 28 blockbuster against arch-rivals India in Dubai.
'It was just bad decisions. All of the teams have that at some point. It was us today. We didn't make the best shot selections.'
Pakistan beat South Africa by six wickets in Wednesday's high-scoring contest in Karachi but not before tempers flared in the first innings when the tourists were batting.
This year's roster sees ten players each placed in Categories B, C, and D. Notably, no player has been selected for Category A in this cycle, the PCB said in a statement.
Former all-rounder Shahid Afridi wants PCB to adopt a firm stance on cricketing ties with India.
Former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf denied any groupings in the dressing room.
Experienced wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan's captaincy in the 50-overs format could be on the line when a joint meeting of the national selection committee and advisory board of the Pakistan Cricket Board is held on Monday in Lahore.
Abhishek Sharma got into a war of words with Haris Rauf with Shubman Gill also stepping in to protect his younger team-mate.
Virat Kohli anchored a tricky chase with an unbeaten 100.
Kuldeep Yadav spun his way into history on Sunday, becoming just the fifth Indian spinner to take 300 international wickets.
On Sunday, in the crucible of Dubai, it all comes down to a single question: Who will seize their moment and become a hero for a nation?
Seniors Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah are set to make a comeback to Pakistan's ODI team for the tour of South Africa.
The run-up to the marquee event has been chaotic to say the least with change in captaincy, shuffling of the top-order and players coming out of retirement.
Australia's chances of beating red-hot Pakistan in the T20 World Cup may well rest on their ability to survive the wiles of paceman Shaheen Afridi, captain Aaron Finch said on Wednesday.
Spinners of both sides will have a significant role to play considering that Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi are the only specialist pacers who will be seen in action in Sunday's match.
Pakistan's Afridi to be fit for World Cup opener, says Raja
But in a video that has gone viral on social media, India fans were seen engaging in a fun banter with Pakistan ace Shaheen Afridi in New York.
The opening day's action in Pakistan's second Test against Bangladesh was washed out on Friday following incessant rain
Babar Azam provided 73 in 95 deliveries with the visitors profiting from some sloppy South African fielding as they dropped numerous catches and were not accurate enough with the ball.
Axar Patel revealed he was doing the math for Virat Kohli's century during their partnership in the India-Pakistan match, ensuring he didn't edge the ball to make sure Kohli reached his milestone
"We played a lot of dot balls because our set batsmen got out and it was not easy for a new batter coming in. They needed two to three balls to settle and that forced us onto the back foot,"
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said Babar Azam has been asked to improve certain aspects of his game.
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