Pakistan rest pacer Shaheen Afridi for South Africa tests

(Reuters): Speedster Shaheen Afridi has been left out of Pakistan’s squad for a two-test series in South Africa in a bid to keep him fresh for the Champions Trophy at home next year, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday.

However, the left-arm quick has been picked for six limited-overs matches in South Africa beginning on December 10, the PCB said in a statement.

“Shaheen Afridi, who also missed the last two tests against England, has been picked for the white-ball matches as part of his workload management so that he is in his best fitness and form for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” the statement read.

Fellow fast bowler Naseem Shah and batting mainstay Babar Azam, both of whom missed the last two matches against England, were recalled for the test matches in Centurion and Cape Town.

The T20I squad will depart for South Africa on Friday, after Thursday’s third T20I against Zimbabwe, while the ODI and Test players will depart for Johannesburg on December 13.

Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie will also arrive in Johannesburg on December 13 to supervise the pre-Test series camp.

The series will begin with the first T20I in Durban on December 10 (Tuesday), followed by the first ODI in Paarl on December 17. The Test matches will be hosted at Centurion and in Cape Town on December 26 and January 3, respectively.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan, whose tally of 19 wickets in two tests was key to Pakistan’s 2-1 series victory against England in October, was dropped.

“Leaving out Sajid Khan, despite his stellar performances against England, was an extremely tough and difficult decision,” selector and interim test team coach Aqib Javed said.

“However, considering the pace-friendly conditions at Centurion and in Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas instead, who is an outstanding exponent of seam bowling.”

Pakistan squads:

Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha

ODI: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)

T20I: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)