Announcement of Pakistan's Squad for South Africa Tour, Babar Azam's Return to All Formats

LAHORE: Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam is set to return to all formats as the Pakistan Men’s selection committee announced the squads for the upcoming month-long tour of South Africa, which will take place from December 6 to January 7.

During the tour, Pakistan will play three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests against South Africa. The tour will begin with the first T20I in Durban on December 10, followed by the first ODI in Paarl on December 17. The two Test matches are scheduled for Centurion (December 26) and Cape Town (January 3).

Mohammad Rizwan will lead the team in white-ball formats, while Shan Masood will captain the red-ball squad. Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Naseem Shah have also been included in the squad, with Naseem selected for the Tests and ODIs.Pakistan squads for Australia and Zimbabwe tours named

Mohammad Abbas has been recalled to the Test squad following strong performances in the County Championship and Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested for the Tests but will feature in the white-ball series. The PCB stated that Shaheen’s absence from the Test squad is part of workload management ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Also returning to the Test squad is Mohammad Abbas, who last played in August 2021. He has claimed 31 wickets in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Naseem Shah, who has been named in the pace attack, returns after missing the last two Tests against England. Khurram Shahzad, who impressed with 15 wickets for Pakistan Shaheens, and Mir Hamza, who is playing for Peshawar in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, complete the pace quartet.

In the ODI squad, the talented left-arm wrist spinner Sufyan Moqim, who took eight wickets in two T20Is against Zimbabwe, is also included.

Squads:

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, 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, 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, Usman Khan (wk).

Tour Schedule: