LAHORE: Interim white-ball coach and current selection committee member Aaqib Javed has clarified the reason behind excluding prominent players from Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming series against South Africa.
Javed discussed the selections in a detailed statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
One of the most notable omissions is that of Sajid Khan, who performed exceptionally in Pakistan’s recent Test series against England, taking 19 wickets.
Despite his strong performance, the former pacer explained that leaving Khan out was a difficult decision.
“Leaving Sajid Khan out, despite his stellar performances against England, was an extremely difficult decision. However, considering the pace-friendly conditions in Centurion and Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas, who is a notable exponent of seam bowling,” Javed said in a statement released by the PCB.
He explained the team’s notable absences, with players like Shaheen Afridi missing from the red-ball team and Fakhar Zaman once again remaining out of the team.
“The exclusion of Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test squad is a strategic decision to ensure that he remains physically and mentally prepared for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Similarly, Fakhar Zaman was not considered as he is yet to regain his form and fitness for the game,” he said.
The former pacer also emphasized that the aim of the squad selection was to maintain consistency in the ODI squad, especially in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, scheduled for February-March.
“We aim to maintain consistency in ODI selections as part of our preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, whilst providing opportunities for emerging talent in T20Is alongside experienced players. For trials, we focused on assembling a squad that can adapt to challenging conditions and consistently compete at the highest level,” he said.
For the Test series, Javed highlighted that the focus was on assembling a squad capable of adapting to the challenging conditions in South Africa and maintaining a competitive edge at the highest level.
“The Test series against South Africa will be highly competitive, but we are confident in our team’s ability to secure a historic victory in the series. Our focus in the ODIs is to continue to build momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy, while the T20I series provides a platform to combine experience with emerging talent.”
