Here are the takeaways from Pakistan’s Test squad for their upcoming two-match Test series in South Africa.
Pakistan will play two Test matches in South Africa, at Centurion from December 26, 2024 and at Cape Town from January 3, 2025. While Pakistan are out of the race for the World Test Championship final, South Africa are firm favourites to grab one of the two spots. They named a 15-member squad for the series.
Pakistan squad for Test series in South Africa
Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Haseebullah (wk), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Saim Ayub, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Salman Ali Agha.
Abbas recalled...
Abbas averages 23.02 for his 90 Test wickets, the second-best among all Pakistan bowlers (after Imran Khan) with a 50-wicket cut-off, but his performances had not been – for reasons not very clear – not enough for the selectors. Despite having one astonishing summer after another for Hampshire, Abbas has not played a Test match since 2021.
Read more: What happened to Mohammad Abbas, the Pakistan quick with the best average after Imran Khan?
The PCB press release cited “a stellar Quaid-e-Azam Trophy” as the reason behind Abbas’s recall. From five matches in Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament, Abbas had 31 wickets at 14.38 for Lahore Blues.
Abbas has toured South Africa before, in 2018-19, and returned with five wickets from two Tests at 46.20. However, he now has nearly six more years of first-class experience in various conditions behind him. Maybe there will be another hurrah for him.
... as is Babar
Unlike Abbas’s recall, Babar’s was more or less on expected lines. Babar was left out of the second and third Tests of the home series against England, both of which Pakistan won to claim the series 2-1. Kamran Ghulam, his replacement, hit a hundred on Test debut.
Babar does not have a Test hundred since the end of 2022, but there was little doubt that he would earn a recall. However, with Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, and Shan Masood slated to bat in the top three, it will be interesting to see whether Babar retains his No.4 place or he drops down one place to accommodate Kamran. If that happens, the in-form Saud Shakeel will also have to drop one place.
Alternately, Pakistan may leave out Ayub, and Masood may return as an opening batter. In that case, one of Babar, Kamran, and Shakeel will have to bat at one-drop.
🚨 Pakistan squads announced for South Africa tour 🚨
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 4, 2024
🗓️ 3️⃣ T20Is, 3️⃣ ODIs and 2️⃣ Tests from 10 December to 7 January 🏏
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/7wp7q1U7Yb#SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/3PYbvFfSpz
‘Strategic decision’ to rest Shaheen ...
Like Babar, Shaheen Shah Afridi was left out of the two Tests as well – and one could see why. Pakistan prepared pitches to suit their spinners, who bowled virtually unchanged throughout the two matches.
The South African conditions will aid the seamers, but Pakistan still opted to leave Shaheen out. The PCB release mentioned that it was “a strategic decision to ensure he remains physically and mentally fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025”.
It is worth a mention that since the start of 2023, Shaheen has 17 wickets in six Tests at 45.47.
... but not Naseem
Like Shaheen, Naseem was also left out of the two Tests against England, and is almost certainly part of Pakistan’s Champions Trophy plans. Unlike Shaheen, however, Naseem has been recalled to the Test squad.
Naseem will probably spearhead the Pakistan attack in South Africa. He has never played Test cricket in South Africa, but in six ‘SENA’ Tests across three countries, his eight wickets from six Tests have come at 71 apiece.
No place for Sajid
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali (20 wickets at 13.85) and off-spinner Sajid Khan (19 at 21.10) helped Pakistan beat England on turning tracks at home. In South Africa, the PCB wanted only one of them.
“Leaving out Sajid Khan, despite his stellar performances against England, was an extremely tough and difficult decision,” explained Aaqib Javed, a member of the selection committee and interim white-ball head coach.
It must have been a close call, perhaps decided by the fact that South Africa have only one left-hander (Tony de Zorzi) in their top six. Neither spinner has played in South Africa, but Noman has eight wickets at 21.50 from two Tests against them at home.
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