Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha are all included in all three of Pakistan’s teams for the next multi-format trip to South Africa.
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha are all included in all three of Pakistan’s teams for the next multi-format trip to South Africa. From December 10 to January 7, the tour will include three Twenty20 Internationals, three One-Day Internationals, and two Test matches. In an effort to control his workload, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who missed the last two Test matches against England, has received selection for the white-ball contests. The selectors have chosen Naseem Shah for the Test and ODI matches.
“Shaheen Shah Afridi’s absence from the Test team is a calculated move to keep him healthy and ready for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
The interim white-ball head coach and member of the selection committee, Aqib Javed, stated that the selectors did not take Fakhar Zaman into consideration since he has not yet recovered his form and match fitness.
Mohammad Abbas, a fast bowler who last played in Jamaica in August 2021, is also making a comeback to the Test team. After missing the previous two Test matches against England, the selectors have also included Naseem in the four-man pace attack.
After the Pakistan Shaheens took 15 wickets against Sri Lanka “A” last month, selectors included fast bowler Khurram Shahzad in the Test squad. The 15-man Test team’s fourth fast bowler is Mir Hamza.
Despite taking 19 wickets against England, selectors did not select off-spinner Sajid Khan because they chose Noman Ali, a specialist spinner who took 20 wickets against England.
“Despite Sajid Khan’s outstanding efforts against England, it was a really challenging and painful decision to leave him out. But because of the pace-friendly circumstances in Cape Town and Centurion, we decided to go with Mohammad Abbas instead, who is a superb example of seam bowling,” Javed said.
Sufyan Moqim, a left-arm wrist spinner with eight wickets in two Twenty20 Internationals, including five wickets for three runs in the second T20I, is also getting the selectors’ attention for the first time in ODIs.
The ODI and Test players will leave for Johannesburg on December 13, while the T20I team will leave for South Africa on Friday, December 6, following Thursday’s third T20I match against Zimbabwe.
On December 10, the inaugural Twenty20 International will take place in Durban, while on December 17, the first One-Day International will take place in Paarl. On December 26 and January 3, respectively, Centurion and Cape Town will host the Test matches.
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 and 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 and 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 and Usman Khan (wk)
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