Lahore: Pakistan’s men’s selection committee has announced the squads for both white-ball and red-ball formats for the South Africa tour, scheduled from December 10 to January 7. The tour includes three T20s, three ODIs, and two Test matches. The series will begin with the first T20 in Durban on December 10, followed by the first ODI on December 17 in Paarl. The Test matches will be held on December 26 in Centurion and January 3 in Cape Town.
Babar Azam is included in all three formats, alongside Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha. Naseem Shah has been selected for Tests and ODIs, while Shaheen Shah Afridi will play only white-ball matches to manage his workload, ensuring peak fitness and form for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Key Inclusions and Exclusions
Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas returns to the Test squad after last playing in August 2021. Abbas, who has taken 90 wickets in 25 Tests, recently claimed 31 wickets in five matches during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Naseem Shah also returns to the Test squad after missing the last two matches against England.
Emerging fast bowler Khurram Shehzad, who claimed 15 wickets against Sri Lanka A last month, has earned a spot in the Test squad. Mir Hamza completes the four-member pace attack.
Notably, off-spinner Sajid Khan, who took 19 wickets against England, has been excluded. The selectors opted for a single specialist spinner, Nauman Ali, considering the fast-bowler-friendly conditions in South Africa. Nauman has taken 67 wickets in 17 Tests, including 20 wickets in the England series.
In the ODI squad, left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Maqeem has been included for the first time after an impressive performance against Zimbabwe, where he took eight wickets in two T20Is, including a five-wicket haul for just three runs in the second match.
Fakhar Zaman has not been considered due to lack of form and match fitness, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested from the Test squad for strategic reasons.
Full Squads
Test Squad:
Shan Masood (Captain), Saud Shakeel (Vice-Captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (Wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shehzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha.
ODI Squad:
Mohammad Rizwan (Captain & Wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Maqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (Wicketkeeper).
T20I Squad:
Mohammad Rizwan (Captain & Wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jehandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Maqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (Wicketkeeper).
Aaqib Javed’s Remarks
Interim white-ball head coach Aaqib Javed commented on the squad selection, stating that the policy was to select players best suited for each format, ensuring balanced squads capable of performing well in South Africa.
On Sajid Khan’s exclusion, Aaqib said, “Despite his excellent performance against England, we opted for Mohammad Abbas considering the seam-friendly conditions in Centurion and Cape Town.” He also emphasized that resting Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test squad was a strategic move to keep him fresh for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
The T20 squad will depart for South Africa on December 6, following the third T20I against Zimbabwe, while ODI and Test players will leave for Johannesburg on December 13. Red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie will join the squad on December 13 to oversee the pre-Test series camp.
