Babar Azam’s return to Pakistan team, PCB announces team for South Africa series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the Pakistan team for the two -match Test series against South Africa next month. PCB has announced an 18 -member team for this series. Former captain and star batsman Babar Azam has returned to the team. The series will be played from October 12, which is part of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.

Babur and Rizwan return

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan did not get a place in the Asia Cup team, but now these experienced players have returned under the captaincy of Shan Masood. Babur’s return has strengthened the middle order of Pakistan. Mohammad Rizwan, who sat out of the Asia Cup, will take over the responsibility of wicketkeeping in this series. Prominent bowlers Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Abrar Ahmed are also in the team. Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafiq are expected to start the innings, while Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali will strengthen batting in the agar middle order.

3 new faces were also involved in the team

This team of Pakistan has a mixture of experienced and new faces. Among the three new players, left -arm spinner Asif Afridi, wrist spinner Faisal Akram and wicketkeeper batsman Rohil Nazir will have a chance to debut. Pakistani players will take part in the training camp till October 8 under the guidance of Head Coach Azhar Mahmood and NCA coaches. Cricketers who participated in the recently concluded ACC Men T20 Asia Cup will attend the camp on October 4.

Pakistan and South Africa teams will play the first Test match at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore between October 12-16, after which the second Test match is to be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium between October 20-24.

The two countries will play a series of three T20 matches between October 28 and November 1, while the three-match ODI series will be played between October 4-8. The team has not been announced for T20 and ODI series yet.

Pakistan team for Test series against South Africa- Shaan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohil Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Aga, Sajid Shakil and Shaheed Shakil.