Pakistan’s cricket board made waves on Tuesday by unveiling a revamped, spin-dominant 18-member squad for the highly anticipated two-Test home series against South Africa. This decisive reshuffle comes on the heels of the team’s less-than-stellar performance in the recent Asia Cup.
The squad sees the crucial return of pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, back in the Test arena after a year-long absence. Emphasizing a strong spin attack, the selectors have included a remarkable five spinners, with regulars Noman Ali and Sajid Khan being joined by Abrar Ahmed, Faisal Akram, and the seasoned 38-year-old veteran, Asif Afridi. Additionally, uncapped wicketkeeper Rohail Nazir has been named as a backup to first-choice gloveman Mohammad Rizwan.
The two-Test series, which begins on October 12 in Lahore, will be captained by Shan Masood. This spin-centric approach is a clear indication of Pakistan’s strategy to capitalize on familiar, turn-friendly home pitches. It’s a tactic that proved highly effective last year during their series against England, where strategic pitch preparations, aided by powerful fans and patio heaters, helped Pakistan rebound from an opening innings defeat to clinch the next two Tests. In that series, Noman and Sajid were instrumental, bagging 20 and 19 wickets respectively.
The second Test match is scheduled to commence on October 20 in Rawalpindi. This series also marks the beginning of both teams’ campaigns in the new cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC). South Africa previously triumphed in the 2023–25 edition, while Pakistan finished ninth.
Beyond the Test matches, the series will also feature a three-match T20 International series and a three-match One Day International series.
**Pakistan Squad:**
Shan Masood (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi.