Pakistan have left out former skipper Babar Azam and a handful of stars, while recalling Shadab Khan for next month's T20I series in Sri Lanka.

Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali are among the Pakistan stars who will miss the three-match series, starting January 7. Azam, Afridi and the others are competing in the Big Bash League in Australia.

The Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly chose not to consider Azam and Afridi for the tour, instead giving a maiden call-up to batter Khawaja Nafay and recalling Abdul Samad. Salman Ali Agha will lead the 15-member squad, also comprising Saim Ayub and Naseem Shah.

Opener Azam has not been in the best of form in the BBL, scoring just a fifty and making less than 10 runs in three other innings for Sydney Sixers. Left-arm pacer Afridi has been expensive for Brisbane Heat with just two wickets from four innings at an average of 76.5.

Pakistan are in Group A of the T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka next year. Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka due to the diplomatic tension with India. India and Pakistan will clash in a Group A match in Colombo on February 15.

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