PAK vs SA 2025: Pakistan pick three uncapped players for South Africa Tests
The two Tests will be the first couple of matches in the multi-format series which will see three T20Is and as many ODIs being played.
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Wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir, spin-bowling all-rounder Asif Afridi and left-arm wrist-spinner Faisal Akram are the three uncapped players included in Pakistan's 18-member squad for the two-match Test series against South Africa. The multi-format series will also include three T20Is and as many ODIs apart from two red-ball games.
The squad selected by the Pakistan Cricket Board will be pruned closer to the first Test, which is set to get underway on October 12. Shan Masood will continue as Test skipper. All the players, barring the ones returning from the recently-concluded Asia Cup, will take part in a training camp from September 30 to October 8, which will be overseen by Pakistan's Test team coach Azhar Mahmood.
Coming to the new faces, Rohail is a 23-year-old who is highly thought of in Pakistan's domestic arena. He averages 34.45 with the bat in First-Class cricket in 43 matches. He has already made his T20I debut at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and has played three T20Is so far.
Afridi comes into the Test setup with loads of experience. Already 38, the left-arm spinner has picked up 198 wickets in FC cricket at an average of 25.49. The left-arm wrist-spin of Faisal will complement Afridi in the spin-bowling department, which also possesses regulars Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmed.
The fast-bowling options include Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Aamir Jamal while Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Masood form the batting core.
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Pakistan's squad for two-Test series vs South Africa
Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi
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