Pakistan Announces Squads for South Africa Tour
The PCB men’s selection committee has announced the squads for the upcoming tour of South Africa, running from December 10 to January 7. The tour features three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches.
Shan Masood will be leading the test squad meanwhile Muhammad Rizwan will captan the white ball side. Pacer Naseem Shah has been chosen for the Tests and ODIs, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, continuing his workload management plan, will play in the T20Is and ODIs. Babar Azam is also back in all three formats after a break from the Zimbabwe series.
Returning to the Test side is seasoned fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, whose last appearance was in August 2021 in Jamaica. Abbas’s inclusion follows a standout performance in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he claimed 31 wickets in five matches.
Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, fresh from a 15-wicket haul for Pakistan Shaheens against Sri Lanka ‘A,’ has also been included in the Test squad. Mir Hamza completes the pace attack, currently competing in domestic matches.
On Sajid Khan’s exclusion, coach Aqib Javed said “Leaving out Sajid Khan, despite his stellar performances against England, was an extremely tough and difficult decision. However, considering the pace-friendly conditions at Centurion and in Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas instead, who is an outstanding exponent of seam bowling.”
Left-arm wrist-spinner Sufyan Muqeem earned his maiden ODI call-up after exceptional T20I performances, including a stunning 5/3 in a match against Zimbabwe.
The T20I squad will leave for South Africa on December 6, immediately following the final T20I against Zimbabwe. The ODI and Test squads are set to depart on December 13, accompanied by red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie, who will oversee preparations for the Test series.
According to PCB’s strategy for this tour, The goal is to ensure consistency in ODI selections as part of their preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, while providing opportunities for emerging talent in T20Is alongside seasoned players.
Tour schedule:
10 Dec – First T20I, Durban
13 Dec – Second T20I, Centurion
14 Dec – Third T20I, Johannesburg
17 Dec – First ODI, Paarl
19 Dec – Second ODI, Cape Town
22 Dec – Third ODI, Johannesburg
26-30 Dec – First Test, Centurion
3-7 Jan – Second Test, Cape Town
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