LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced the white-ball and red-ball teams for the upcoming series against South Africa.
The series, which comprises two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is, is scheduled from December 10 to January 7.
Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, who returns after missing the Zimbabwe series, will only play white-ball matches. The 24-year-old’s inclusion aims to ensure he is in the best shape for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Mohammad Abbas, who last played Test cricket in 2021, returned to the Test team after a standout performance in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy where he took 31 wickets in five matches.
Naseem Shah returns to the squad for Tests and ODIs after missing the recent series against England and the Zimbabwe white-ball series. Khurram Shahzad, after a standout performance with Pakistan Shaheens, joins the Test squad alongside Mir Hamza.
However, off-spinner Sajid Khan, despite taking 19 wickets against England in the recent Test series, was excluded, with the selectors opting to include just one specialist spinner, Noman Ali.
Sufyan Muqeem, a left-arm wrist spinner, received his first ODI call-up after standout performances in the T20I series against Zimbabwe.
The T20I team will leave for South Africa on December 6, while the ODI and Test teams will leave on December 13. Red-ball coach Jason Gillespie will join the team in Johannesburg ahead of the Test series.
Pakistan squads to tour South Africa:
Tests: Shan Masood (capt), 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
ODI: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and week), 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 (without)
T20I: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and week), 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 (week)
Tour schedule:
