Karachi, Dec 4 (UNI) In a bold move ahead of their highly anticipated tour of South Africa, Pakistan has revealed its squads for the three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests that will be played over the next month.
The decision to exclude Shaheen Afridi from the Test series has garnered significant attention, with the star fast bowler being rested to focus on his preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Afridi, who played a key role in Pakistan’s impressive run in the 2023 World Cup, will not be part of the Test squad. Instead, his workload will be managed, ensuring he remains fresh and at peak performance for the upcoming Champions Trophy, a marquee 50-over event that will be held next year.
The selection committee has acknowledged that Afridi’s absence will be a significant blow to Pakistan’s Test ambitions, but the focus remains on long-term planning.
Alongside Afridi, other key players have been left out of the squad, including explosive opener Fakhar Zaman and leg-spinner Sajid Khan.
Zaman, who has struggled with fitness and form, has been excluded from the squad due to ongoing fitness concerns. Sajid, despite his excellent performances in Pakistan’s recent home Test series against England, has been overlooked in favour of Mohammad Abbas.
The decision to pick Abbas over Sajid was influenced by the pace-friendly conditions expected in South Africa, particularly at Centurion and Cape Town.
Abbas, known for his seam-bowling prowess, is seen as the better fit for these conditions. His ability to exploit the movement on South African tracks will be crucial for Pakistan’s chances in the Test series.
Shan Masood has been named captain of Pakistan’s Test squad, bringing his strong domestic form and leadership experience to the role. Masood will lead Pakistan in what is expected to be a highly competitive Test series against South Africa, where the challenge will be steep.
For the limited-overs formats, Mohammad Rizwan will take on the captaincy. The wicketkeeper-batsman’s consistency with the bat and leadership capabilities make him the ideal choice to lead Pakistan’s ODI and T20I sides.
Babar Azam, who remains the cornerstone of Pakistan’s batting lineup, will continue to play an essential role across all formats.
Aqib Javed, the interim white-ball head coach and selector, explained the rationale behind the squad selections. “We have adopted a horses-for-courses policy to ensure all three squads are well-balanced and capable of performing strongly in South Africa,” Javed stated. “Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exclusion from the Test squad is a strategic decision to ensure he remains physically and mentally fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.”
Javed also mentioned that Fakhar Zaman’s exclusion was a tough call, as the opener is yet to regain match fitness. Furthermore, the selection of Mohammad Abbas over Sajid Khan was driven by the expected conditions in South Africa, where fast bowlers are likely to dominate.
Pakistan’s tour to South Africa presents a crucial opportunity for the team to test their readiness for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 while also aiming for success in the Test series.
The absence of Afridi from the Tests, combined with the selection of experienced players like Babar and Rizwan, demonstrates a carefully planned strategy to balance immediate performance with long-term goals.
Test Squad: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), 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 (c, wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (wk)
T20I Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c, 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 Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (wk)
