Pakistan has announced the return of fast bowler Mohammad Abbas to the Test squad after a three-year hiatus, while fellow pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will focus solely on white-ball formats during the upcoming tour of South Africa.
Abbas, who has accomplished 90 wickets across 25 Test matches, has not participated in red-ball cricket for the national team since the Test in Jamaica back in 2021. His recent domestic performances have been noteworthy, with 31 wickets taken in just five matches of the premier four-day tournament.
According to a statement from the selection committee member Aaqib Javed, Afridi’s absence from the Test squad is a tactical move aimed at keeping him in top physical and mental condition for the Champions Trophy.
Joining Abbas in the Test lineup are Naseem Shah, who was unavailable for the last two Tests against England, Khurram Shahzad, and left-arm bowler Mir Hamza.
The Pakistan team is set to kick off its South Africa tour next Tuesday, engaging in three T20 matches, followed by three ODIs and two Tests in Centurion and Cape Town.
“We have taken a targeted approach to ensure that all three squads are balanced and equipped to excel in South Africa,” Javed stated. He was recently appointed as the interim white-ball coach ahead of the team’s journey to Zimbabwe.
In ODIs, the focus will be on building momentum as they prep for the Champions Trophy, while the T20 series aims to mix seasoned players with up-and-coming talents.
Despite outstanding performances in the last two Tests against England, off-spinner Sajid Khan was omitted from the Test squad. Noman Ali, who secured 20 wickets during those key victories, was favored over Khan.
“Leaving Sajid Khan out was a challenging decision, yet we felt it was necessary. Given the pace-friendly environment expected in Centurion and Cape Town, we felt Mohammad Abbas, a skilled seam bowler, was the right choice,” Javed explained.
Notable players like former captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha have been named in all three squads.
The selectors have also chosen to back young talent Sufiyan Muqeem for the T20s and ODIs, following his impressive performance where he took eight wickets across two T20 matches versus Zimbabwe. His remarkable T20 record of five wickets for just three runs, achieved in Bulawayo, contributed to Zimbabwe’s lowest T20 score of 57 all out.
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Squads:
Tests: Shan Masood (Captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha.
ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan, 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, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, and Usman Khan.
T20s: Mohammad Rizwan (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, and Usman Khan.
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