Pakistan Announces Squads for South Africa Tour
News Desk
Lahore: Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam makes his return to all formats as the Pakistan Men’s selection committee announced the squads for their upcoming month-long tour of South Africa, set to take place from December 6 to January 7.
The tour will include three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches, with Mohammad Rizwan leading the white-ball side and Shan Masood captaining the red-ball team.
The series will kick off with the first T20I in Durban on December 10, followed by the first ODI in Paarl on December 17. The Test series will begin on December 26 at Centurion, with the second Test in Cape Town starting January 3.
Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha are also included in all three squads, while Naseem Shah has been selected for both the Tests and ODIs.
In a key development, fast bowler Mohammad Abbas has been recalled to the Test squad, following his impressive performances in the County Championship and the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Abbas, who has taken 90 wickets in 25 Tests, has not played for Pakistan since August 2021. Naseem Shah, who has missed the last two Tests against England, is included in the pace attack, along with Khurram Shahzad, who impressed with 15 wickets for Pakistan Shaheens.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been rested for the Test matches, is selected for the white-ball formats. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted for this workload management to ensure he is in peak form for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan has been omitted from the Test squad despite his strong showing against England. The selectors have chosen Noman Ali as the sole specialist spinner for the tour, with the South African conditions in mind.
The T20I squad will depart for South Africa on December 6, while the ODI and Test teams will leave on December 13. Interim white-ball head coach Aqib Javed said the selection committee has adopted a “horses for courses” approach to ensure the squads are balanced and competitive in South Africa.
Pakistan Squads for South Africa Tour:
Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), 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.
ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & 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).
T20Is: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & 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).
Tour Schedule:
10 Dec – First T20I, Durban
13 Dec – Second T20I, Centurion
14 Dec – Third T20I, Johannesburg
17 Dec – First ODI, Paarl
19 Dec – Second ODI, Cape Town
22 Dec – Third ODI, Johannesburg
26-30 Dec – First Test, Centurion
3-7 Jan – Second Test, Cape Town
