Pakistan’s Test squad will convene in Dubai before embarking on their journey to Johannesburg for the much-anticipated two-match red-ball series against South Africa.
The players will travel from Karachi and Lahore to assemble in Dubai, marking the beginning of their preparations for the challenging series. Several key players, including skipper Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, and rising star Saim Ayub, are already in South Africa, where they are competing in the ongoing white-ball series. These players will seamlessly transition their focus to the red-ball format once the white-ball commitments conclude.
Naseem Shah, Kamran Ghulam, and Abdullah Shafique, who feature in both ODI and Test squads, will also join the camp in Dubai. Additional squad members, including captain Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Khurram Shehzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, and Noman Ali, will arrive to complete the lineup.
The red-ball preparations will be led by head coach Jason Gillespie, who is scheduled to join the team in South Africa tomorrow.
Pakistan currently sits seventh in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings with 40 points from 10 matches, including four wins. The series presents an opportunity for the team to improve their position in the championship race and keep their brief chances of making the final somehow alive.
Meanwhile, South Africa holds the top spot with 76 points from 10 matches and an impressive 63.33% win percentage. A single victory in the series could virtually guarantee the Proteas a spot in the WTC final.
Pakistan Test Squad for South Africa Series
| Shan Masood (c) |
| Saud Shakeel (vc) |
| Aamir Jamal |
| Abdullah Shafique |
| Babar Azam |
| Haseebullah (wk) |
| Kamran Ghulam |
| Khurram Shahzad |
| Mir Hamza |
| Mohammad Abbas |
| Mohammad Rizwan (wk) |
| Naseem Shah |
| Noman Ali |
| Saim Ayub |
| Salman Ali Agha |
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 26-30 Dec | First Test | Centurion |
| 3-7 Jan | Second Test | Cape Town |
With both teams looking to make a name at opposite poles of the WTC, this series promises high stakes and intense competition. Stay tuned for updates as Pakistan begins their red-ball journey against a formidable South African side.
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