ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced ODI and T20 squads for the upcoming tour of South Africa.
According to a statement issued by the PCB, former captain Babar Azam has returned to the white-ball team, while Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha will also represent the national team in all three formats.
Naseem Shah is included in both the Test and ODI squads, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has been dropped from the Test squad once again.
During the tour of South Africa, the national team will play three T20 matches, three ODIs, and two Test matches, starting with the first T20 match in Durban on December 10.
Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas returns to the Test team after last playing in August 2021 in Jamaica. Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who took 19 wickets in the Test series against England, has not been included in the squad.
The selectors have opted for only one specialist spinner, Noman Ali, for the Centurion and Cape Town Tests, respectively. In ODIs, left-arm spinner Sufyan Muqeem has successfully earned his maiden call-up after impressive performances.
Pakistan’s Test squad for South Africa tour:
Squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Amir Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haseeb Ullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha.
ODI squad:
Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafiq, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.
T20 squad:
Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Umair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Muqeem Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.
