Pakistan’s squads for South Africa tour announced

LAHORE: Pakistan’s national selection committee has announced the men’s squads for the upcoming South Africa tour, comprising three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests, scheduled from December 10 to January 7.

Shan Masood is retained as the captain for Pakistan’s red-ball side, while, Mohammad Rizwan will lead the white-ball side in three ODIs and T20Is.

Babar Azam has been named in all three squads along with Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha, while Naseem Shah has been selected for the Tests and ODIs, the PCB press release said.

As per the cricket board statement, ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested for the Test series as part of his workload management ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Mohammad Abbas, a star fast bowler who disappeared after a 2021 tour of the West Indies, will make his return in the red-ball side against South Africa after impressing selectors with his stellar Quaid-e-Azam Trophy campaign.

Naseem Shah has also been named in the four-man pace attack along with Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza.

According to the PCB, selectors after considering the condition in South Africa decided to take only one specialist spinner, Noman Ali, dropping Sajid Khan, the show-stellar in the recent England tour of Pakistan.

The T20I squad will depart for South Africa on December 6, after the third T20I against Zimbabwe, while the ODI and Test players will depart for Johannesburg on 13 December.

Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie will also arrive in Johannesburg on December 13 to supervise the pre-Test series camp.

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)