The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its squads for the upcoming tour of South Africa, which includes a two-match Test series, three ODIs, and three T20Is from December 10 to January 7. Notably, star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been excluded from the Test squad, while Babar Azam returns to lead the team across all formats.
Strategic Rest for Shaheen Afridi
Shaheen Afridi, who also missed Pakistan’s final two Tests against England earlier this year, has been selected only for the white-ball formats. The decision, according to the selectors, is part of a workload management strategy to keep him in top condition for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Interim white-ball head coach Aqib Javed explained, “The decision to rest Shaheen from Tests is purely strategic. We aim to ensure he remains physically and mentally fresh for key tournaments, including the Champions Trophy.”
Babar Azam Back in Action
After missing out on some recent assignments, Babar Azam has been named in all three squads, reaffirming his status as Pakistan’s premier batsman and leader. Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha also feature across all formats, reflecting the selectors’ emphasis on a strong core group of players.
Notable Test Squad Selections
The Test squad sees the return of veteran pacer Mohammad Abbas, who last played in 2021. Abbas earned his place following an outstanding Quaid-e-Azam Trophy campaign, where he claimed 31 wickets in just five matches.
Naseem Shah also returns to the Test fold after missing the England series due to injury. He recently impressed with a four-wicket haul in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Emerging fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who shone against Sri Lanka ‘A’, and left-arm seamer Mir Hamza complete the pace attack.
The selectors opted for only one specialist spinner in Noman Ali, who has been in excellent form with 20 wickets in the recent series against England. Sajid Khan, despite his stellar performances in the same series, was omitted in favor of seam-friendly conditions in South Africa.
Fresh Faces in ODI and T20I Squads
Sufyan Moqim, a promising left-arm wrist spinner, has earned his maiden ODI call-up. Moqim made headlines in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, where he bagged five wickets for just three runs in a match-winning performance.
The T20I squad blends experienced players like Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf with emerging talents, reflecting the PCB’s focus on building depth in the shortest format.
Selectors Explain Key Choices
Aqib Javed elaborated on the selection strategy:
“For Tests, we adopted a horses-for-courses policy, selecting players like Abbas who can exploit seam-friendly conditions in South Africa.”
“The ODI squad is designed to maintain consistency and build momentum for the Champions Trophy.”
“The T20I series offers an opportunity to blend experience with fresh talent.”
Pakistan’s Tour Schedule and Preparations
The T20I squad will depart for South Africa on December 6, following their final T20I against Zimbabwe. The ODI and Test squads are set to leave on December 13, accompanied by red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie, who will oversee the pre-Test training camp.
Pakistan Squads for South Africa Tour
Test Squad
Captain: Shan Masood
Vice-Captain: Saud Shakeel
Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
ODI Squad
Captain: Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (wk)
T20I Squad
Captain: Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (wk)
As Pakistan heads to South Africa, the teams are well-prepared to face challenging conditions, with selectors and coaching staff confident in their strategy and squad balance.
