The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled the squads for the upcoming South Africa tour, scheduled from December 10 to January 7, featuring three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches. The tour aims to build momentum ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Key Highlights of the Squads
- Babar Azam Leads Across All Formats: Pakistan’s star batter will captain all three squads, supported by Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha.
- Shaheen Afridi Returns for Limited-Overs: The fast bowler is back in ODIs and T20Is but will sit out the Test series to manage his workload strategically.
- Fakhar Zaman Excluded: The opener was not considered due to ongoing struggles with form and fitness.
Test Squad Updates
- Mohammad Abbas Makes a Comeback: Abbas, who last played in August 2021, returns after an impressive domestic season, claiming 31 wickets in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
- Naseem Shah Returns: The pacer rejoins the Test squad after recovering from an injury that sidelined him during the England series.
- Focus on Seamers: With pace-friendly conditions in South Africa, selectors opted for just one specialist spinner, Noman Ali, over Sajid Khan, despite his strong performance against England.
ODI and T20I Highlights
- Sufyan Moqim Earns Maiden ODI Call-Up: The left-arm wrist-spinner impressed with his eight wickets in two T20Is against Zimbabwe, including a stunning five-wicket haul.
- Strategic ODI Selections: The squad emphasizes consistency and preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy while giving emerging players a platform in T20Is.
Selection Rationale
Interim white-ball head coach Aqib Javed highlighted the “horses-for-courses” policy for squad selection, ensuring a balanced approach tailored to South African conditions. He defended the exclusion of Sajid Khan and the omission of Shaheen Afridi from the Test squad, emphasizing the need for strategic decisions to balance player workload and team requirements.
Tour Schedule
T20I Series:
- December 10: 1st T20I, Durban
- December 13: 2nd T20I, Centurion
- December 14: 3rd T20I, Johannesburg
ODI Series:
- December 17: 1st ODI, Paarl
- December 19: 2nd ODI, Cape Town
- December 22: 3rd ODI, Johannesburg
Test Matches:
- December 26-30: 1st Test, Centurion
- January 3-7: 2nd Test, Cape Town
Pakistan Squads for South Africa Tour
Test Squad:
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.
ODI Squad:
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).
T20I Squad:
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).
Coach’s Perspective
“Our focus remains on preparing for the ICC Champions Trophy while ensuring we give opportunities to young players to thrive in the shorter formats. For Tests, we’ve built a squad capable of handling the challenging conditions in South Africa,” Aqib Javed said.
This highly anticipated tour promises exciting cricket as Pakistan tests its mettle in South Africa.
