 has officially announced the squads for the much-anticipated South Africa tour.){kind=link}
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the squads for the much-anticipated South Africa tour, and there’s a lot to unpack! The squads, covering Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, have a mix of experience, youth, and some surprise inclusions. Let’s dive into the details.
The Comeback King: Mohammad Abbas
One of the most notable stories is the return of veteran pacer Mohammad Abbas to the Test squad. Abbas, who last donned the Pakistan jersey in August 2021, is back after a phenomenal Quaid-e-Azam Trophy season, where he picked up 31 wickets in just five matches.
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With 90 wickets in 25 Tests, Abbas brings a wealth of experience. His ability to swing the ball in seamer-friendly South African conditions could be crucial for Pakistan’s success.
What about Babar and Shaheen?
Babar Azam, as always, remains the centerpiece of Pakistan’s cricketing ambitions. The star batter has been named across all three squads, a testament to his importance in all formats.
Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has been included in the ODI and T20I squads but will skip the Tests. The PCB seems keen on managing his workload ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Similarly, Naseem Shah, returning after missing the last two Tests against England, will feature in both Tests and ODIs. His raw pace and bounce are tailor-made for South African pitches.
New Faces and Rising Stars
The squads also include exciting young talent. Left-arm wrist-spinner Sufyan Muqeem earned his maiden ODI call-up after impressing with eight wickets in two T20Is, including a sensational 5-for-3 performance.
In the T20I squad, Jahandad Khan and Mohammad Abbas Afridi are two names to watch as selectors shown faith in them after Australia and Zimbabwe tour. Their inclusion signals the selectors’ intent to give emerging players a platform on the big stage.
The Spinner Conundrum
The Test squad’s spin department raised a few eyebrows. Sajid Khan, despite taking 19 wickets against England, has been omitted. The selectors opted for only one specialist spinner, Noman Ali, based on the conditions in Centurion and Newlands. Noman, with 67 wickets in 17 Tests, will shoulder the spin responsibilities alone.
Shan Masood will captain the Test side, with Saud Shakeel serving as vice-captain. The squad combines experienced names like Abdullah Shafique and Salman Ali Agha with promising players like Saim Ayub and Aamir Jamal.
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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)
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