18-member squad announced for South Africa Test series

[MenInG]

Lahore, 30 September 2025: The national selection committee has named an 18-member squad for the two-Test match series, part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 against South Africa, commencing on 12 October. The squad will be further trimmed before the start of the first Test.

Shan Masood will continue to lead the side, while three uncapped players – Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram and Rohail Nazir have also been included.

South Africa, champions of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, will take on Pakistan in the first Test at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from 12 to 16 October, while the second Test will be staged at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi from 20 to 24 October.

The two-Test match series will be followed by three T20Is and as many ODIs to be played from 28 October to 8 November. The squad for the white-ball series will be announced in due course.

The players for the pre-series camp will undergo training under red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood and NCA coaches later today till Wednesday, 8 October. The players who featured in the recently concluded ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup will join the squad on 4 October.

Pakistan squad:

Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

South Africa tour to Pakistan

12-16 October – First Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
20-24 October – Second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
28 October – First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
31 October – Second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
1 November – Third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
4 November – First ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
6 November – Second ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
8 November – Third ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

 

[RehanG]

is Asif Afridi that 38 year old guy? What to gain from him.
Otherwise good squad. Should’ve been 3 test matches.

 

[adi_62941]

Very balanced squad. Now a days PCB announcing good squads but players are not performing

 

[adi_62941]

Hasan ali always finds his way in every squad dont know how

 

[big_gamer007]

is Asif Afridi that 38 year old guy? What to gain from him.
Otherwise good squad. Should’ve been 3 test matches.

Why are they debuting a 38 year old, soon to be 39 year old unless he is outperforming everyone in domestics by a country mile?

 

[iRfaN_LA]

where is naseem shah

 

[mominsaigol]

18-member squad announced for South Africa Test series

Lahore, 30 September 2025:

The national selection committee has named an 18-member squad for the two-Test match series, part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 against South Africa, commencing on 12 October. The squad will be further trimmed before the start of the first Test.

Shan Masood will continue to lead the side, while three uncapped players – Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram and Rohail Nazir have also been included.

South Africa, champions of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, will take on Pakistan in the first Test at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from 12 to 16 October, while the second Test will be staged at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi from 20 to 24 October.

The two-Test match series will be followed by three T20Is and as many ODIs to be played from 28 October to 8 November. The squad for the white-ball series will be announced in due course.

The players for the pre-series camp will undergo training under red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood and NCA coaches later today till Wednesday, 8 October. The players who featured in the recently concluded ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup will join the squad on 4 October.

Pakistan squad:

Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

South Africa tour to Pakistan

12-16 October – First Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
20-24 October – Second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
28 October – First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
31 October – Second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
1 November – Third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
4 November – First ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
6 November – Second ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
8 November – Third ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

-ENDS-

Pretty medicore squad tbh. But Pk will probably go with

1) Abdullah Shafique
2) Imam ul Haq
3) Shan Masood
4) Babar Azam
5) Saud Shakeel
6) Muhammad Rizwan
7) Salman Ali Agha
8) Sajid Khan
9) Noman Ali
10/11) 2 Pacers or 1 pacer + 1 spinner depending on conditons

Ugh, Shan Masood is such a thorn in the side and so is Abdullah and Imam, wish Pakistan grew some brain cells and draft in kamran Ghulam but knowing pcb he will sit out for Babar

 

[hassan918]

Pretty medicore squad tbh. But Pk will probably go with

1) Abdullah Shafique
2) Imam ul Haq
3) Shan Masood
4) Babar Azam
5) Saud Shakeel
6) Muhammad Rizwan
7) Salman Ali Agha
8) Sajid Khan
9) Noman Ali
10/11) 2 Pacers or 1 pacer + 1 spinner depending on conditons

Ugh, Shan Masood is such a thorn in the side and so is Abdullah and Imam, wish Pakistan grew some brain cells and draft in kamran Ghulam but knowing pcb he will sit out for Babar

This batting lineup looks pretty solid.

 

[mominsaigol]

This batting lineup looks pretty solid.

Sajid and Noman being in the squad doesn't give me any confidence since it means Pakistan is 100% opting for doctored pitches again.

Assuming pitches are similar to England series, other then Saud, Kamran Ghulam and Rizwan, the rest do not know how to play on such pitches.

Pcb should opt for spin pitches instead as then imam and Agha can both play well.

Issue will then be Babar, Shan and Abdullah obviously but they are useless by default at this point

 

[mominsaigol]

Sajid and Noman being in the squad doesn't give me any confidence since it means Pakistan is 100% opting for doctored pitches again.

Assuming pitches are similar to England series, other then Saud, Kamran Ghulam and Rizwan, the rest do not know how to play on such pitches.

Pcb should opt for spin pitches instead as then imam and Agha can both play well.

Issue will then be Babar, Shan and Abdullah obviously but they are useless by default at this point

Also very dissapointed to not see Farhan being featured. I'm so sick of Abdullah Shafique.

Saim was rightfully dropped tbf.

 

[hks222]

Good to see Shaheen there.

 

[hks222]

Why have they left out abrar ahmed if he is not injured he would have been handy against Sa

Sajid Khan and Nouman Ali are good.

I would have liked to see Mohammad Nawaz

 

[pakfan54588]

Pakistan will look to negate SA pace attack So they will surely prepare slow wicket if not dust bowl .
Maharaj is quality spinner so he might trouble our brittle batting lineup

 

[amvbfm]

Good squad. It is obvious that we will go with our spin strategy which is fine, we should exploit our home advantage. Five specialist spinners is overkill imo. We could've picked Mubasir instead of either Asif, Abrar or even Aamir who usually plays as a spectator on these spinning tracks. I hope Faisal Akram gets a chance this series.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Okay squad. Nothing special.

5 specialist spinners is the only interesting thing.

M Abbas again has been dropped

 

[DeadlyVenom]

It's not a bad squad. Good to see some new names.

Huraira not featured after playing one match before. I wonder if that's him done now.

Naseem Shah looks out in the cold too.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Why are they still picking Imam?

 

[RidiculousMan]

Why are they still picking Imam?

Good form

 

[Abid Z]

Why are they still picking Imam?

Because he’s been in prolific form making big hundreds in uk county cricket.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Why are they debuting a 38 year old, soon to be 39 year old unless he is outperforming everyone in domestics by a country mile?

He likely won't play but isn't a bad bowler.

Pakistan seem to be missing out a generation of spinners.

Either they are way too old or way too young and inexperienced. I think the domestic pitches didn't help spin bowlers for a while.

Perhaps the strategy is to confuse the South Africans who when they see Sajid, Noman and Abbas Afridi bowling may think they are actually playing world legends league.

 

[Abid Z]

Lahore, 30 September 2025: The national selection committee has named an 18-member squad for the two-Test match series, part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 against South Africa, commencing on 12 October. The squad will be further trimmed before the start of the first Test.

Shan Masood will continue to lead the side, while three uncapped players – Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram and Rohail Nazir have also been included.

South Africa, champions of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, will take on Pakistan in the first Test at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from 12 to 16 October, while the second Test will be staged at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi from 20 to 24 October.

The two-Test match series will be followed by three T20Is and as many ODIs to be played from 28 October to 8 November. The squad for the white-ball series will be announced in due course.

The players for the pre-series camp will undergo training under red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood and NCA coaches later today till Wednesday, 8 October. The players who featured in the recently concluded ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup will join the squad on 4 October.

Pakistan squad:

Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

South Africa tour to Pakistan

12-16 October – First Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
20-24 October – Second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
28 October – First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
31 October – Second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
1 November – Third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
4 November – First ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
6 November – Second ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
8 November – Third ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

View attachment 158385

Three fast bowlers Khurram, Hasan and SSA is a bit light when they are all injury prone and not really suited to bowling long spells just yet.

Who they discarded m. Abbas, Mir hamza and Mohammed Ali hmm.

Pak really need to have more fast bowlers tried out. Give them practice for the tests coming up in 2026. They can’t just rely on aging fast bowlers. SSA desperately needs a good line and length bowler alongside him. (Not Naseem)

Two spinners in the squad. Asif Afridi aged 38 and Faisal Akram (lws) have hardly played any first class. This doesn’t bode well.

This can only mean Abrar Sajid and Noman will again do 90% of the bowling. If this isn’t short term thinking I don’t know what is.

 

[Omer2002]

Also very dissapointed to not see Farhan being featured. I'm so sick of Abdullah Shafique.

Saim was rightfully dropped tbf.

Saim was dropped fair enough but surely his bowling could have come handy and he needs to gain form but i guess he needs to start scoring runs

 

[Energy]

First Agha and now Shan!

Good lord these guys in the PCB management are airplanes.

 

[shamaan]

Shaheen should have been rested.

 

[shamaan]

Good to see Jamal in the squad.

 

[shamaan]

Asif Afridi should not be in the squad.

 

[m.shah]

What is the point of selecting 18 players in home series of 2 matches

 

[shamaan]

Abdullah Shafique
Shan Masood
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Agha Salman
Rizwan
Amir jamal
Sajid Khan
Noman Ali
Hassan Ali
Shahzad

 

[khyberlion]

Asif afridi? At the age of 38. Why is Abdullah selected again? Would have preferred Azam awais over him.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

I have heard PCB has banned over 35 players from domestics.. why are they selected for internationals then ?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1972900971052470489

 

[mango_bite77]

Asif Afridi ? Why not anyone from U-23 or U-19 team instead?

 

[Ahmed216]

Why has Saim Ayub been dropped? Mixing formats again. That's not how you treat your talented youngster going through a rough patch.

We need to bring more batsmen into the red ball mix. Nothing better for their development.
And we end up picking 5 spinners in a home test series. Absolute shambles.

 

[cricfan432]

Saim ayub is not much player on rank turners so rightly discarded, but abd shafique is same as well, get some opener from domestics.

 

[Ahmed216]

Saim ayub is not much player on rank turners so rightly discarded, but abd shafique is same as well, get some opener from domestics.

How did you come to that conclusion? And who is great on rank turners in Pakistan?

 

[Barragan]

Mohammad Suleman and Mubasir Khan both deserved to be selected!

I'm not sure about Babar Azam on turning tracks, he is a sitting duck and will struggle

Asif Afridi is in red hot form, so deserved selection and even if you get a series or two out of him its all good and he helps the team win

Lastly, it's concerning that both Shaheen and Hassan Ali have been selected because they shouldn't be playing the longer format and it goes to show the lack of fast bowling options coming through

 

[mominsaigol]

Saim was dropped fair enough but surely his bowling could have come handy and he needs to gain form but i guess he needs to start scoring runs

This bowling drama needs to end brother.

He is in the team as a batsmen, not a bowler or even as an allrounder.

He's a batsmen but gives the luxury of bowling as a 6th or 7th option kinda like how Travis Head can bowl on occasion.

 

[cricfan432]

How did you come to that conclusion? And who is great on rank turners in Pakistan?

He is alright player of spin for odis and t20s but not for tests, we saw in sharjah how he fared against spin.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Sajid and Noman being in the squad doesn't give me any confidence since it means Pakistan is 100% opting for doctored pitches again.

Assuming pitches are similar to England series, other then Saud, Kamran Ghulam and Rizwan, the rest do not know how to play on such pitches.

Pcb should opt for spin pitches instead as then imam and Agha can both play well.

Issue will then be Babar, Shan and Abdullah obviously but they are useless by default at this point

Bro i am loving this squad bro finally they are going for best available players and spin tracks oh boy we are smashing south africa with noman and sajid don bring it on

 

[mominsaigol]

Bro i am loving this squad bro finally they are going for best available players and spin tracks oh boy we are smashing south africa with noman and sajid don bring it on

From a bowling standpoint the squad is good

 

[Ball Blazer]

good to see Sajid and Nauman

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Shaheen should have been rested.

Yes, I'm sure he is very tired from all the test cricket he is not playing

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Yes, I'm sure he is very tired from all the test cricket he is not playing

Shaheen won't be needed spin pitches sajid noman will smash this south African team thank god we are playing to our strength and weakness of sena teams spin is the way to win sajid and noman going to have a field day.

 

[RidiculousMan]

I sense a bowling combo of Sajid, Noman, Abrar, Jamal and Agha

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

I sense a bowling combo of Sajid, Noman, Abrar, Jamal and Agha

Its going to be really hard for south africa to bat against these guys in spinning conditions will be a good series for sure.

 

[gazza619]

I sense a bowling combo of Sajid, Noman, Abrar, Jamal and Agha

No Shaheen?

 

[gazza619]

Its going to be really hard for south africa to bat against these guys in spinning conditions will be a good series for sure.

Pakistan’s success depends on the batting. The bowlers as always will do a decent job on a spin track

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Pakistan’s success depends on the batting. The bowlers as always will do a decent job on a spin track

Well pak just need some runs on board thay will win it

 

[Nabeel23]

Shaheen won't be needed spin pitches sajid noman will smash this south African team thank god we are playing to our strength and weakness of sena teams spin is the way to win sajid and noman going to have a field day.

No, he needs to play Tests to improve his overall bowling, he can rest from the One days.

 

[Mirpuri Don]

There were rumors of Azan Awais being called, really wanted to see a young bat as option for opener over Imam-ul-Haq. Especially as he was in a good form right now.

Rohail Nazir inclusion signals perhaps a way to go beyond Rizwan/Haris choice in the WK/batsman department (know format is different but Haris’ fail during the Asia Cup might have convinced selectors to bring another name so we don’t keep switching between Haris and Rizwan).

As some said spin heavy squad which tells us about the pitches aimed.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Why drop Saim Ayub? He did alright in Test Cricket and was making good progress.

 

[Abid Z]

Bro i am loving this squad bro finally they are going for best available players and spin tracks oh boy we are smashing south africa with noman and sajid don bring it on

Not from a pacers point of view. KS and HA are not long term prospects

 

[RidiculousMan]

No Shaheen?

Hard to make a case for him if they are going to rank turners again. Plus Khurram Shehzad has been a better Test pacer than him

 

[shamaan]

Yes, I'm sure he is very tired from all the test cricket he is not playing

do you know how much matches he has played since 2020 in all formats?

 

[jnaveen1980]

I have heard PCB has banned over 35 players from domestics.. why are they selected for internationals then ?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1972900971052470489

Noman ALi must be atleast 45

 

[shamaan]

Most matches played by Bowlers.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/decade/bowling-most-wickets-career/2020s-202/combined-test-odi-and-t20i-records-11

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Noman ALi must be atleast 45

Can someone confirm from Pakistan that players above 35 are banned in domestic as Maqsood is claiming.

 

[shamaan]

Can someone confirm from Pakistan that players above 35 are banned in domestic as Maqsood is claiming.

Bismillah Khan Is 36 he is playing Hanif Muhammed trophy.
Asif Afridi is 39 and he is playing Hanif Muhammed trophy.

 

[The_KING]

This will be another boring series where the spinners will dominate on minefields.

I wish that we would make the same kind of pitches that we did when South Africa toured in 2022.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Noman ALi must be atleast 45

95

 

[RidiculousMan]

This will be another boring series where the spinners will dominate on minefields.

Boring how so?

 

[cricfan432]

Give it back to SA, make rank turners. SA made cobra pitch in first test and flat on second both to suit their tactics.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

This will be another boring series where the spinners will dominate on minefields.

I wish that we would make the same kind of pitches that we did when South Africa toured in 2022.

You guys ever happy i love spin tracks where ball turn from ball 1 love aqib tactics that's the way to go india does so should pakistan that's the inly way to beat these sena teams.

 

[Katwalindian]

S

is Asif Afridi that 38 year old guy? What to gain from him.
Otherwise good squad. Should’ve been 3 test matches.

South africa have new rule...they will not play more than 2 tests in future against anyone

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I sense a bowling combo of Sajid, Noman, Abrar, Jamal and Agha

i think I will cry if this happens.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

i think I will cry if this happens.

Why would you it's a best attack for spin conditions i am loving this by aqib sena teams ko spin se harao yeh kbi bi nhi jeet skte apse

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Why would you it's a best attack for spin conditions i am loving this by aqib sena teams ko spin se harao yeh kbi bi nhi jeet skte apse

From an entertainment perspective It's crap cricket bro nobody wants to see these chachas bowl from ball 1

I loved the 2 pace and 2 spin combo in Asia. All spinners is just bad viewing.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

From an entertainment perspective It's crap cricket bro nobody wants to see these chachas bowl from ball 1

I loved the 2 pace and 2 spin combo in Asia. All spinners is just bad viewing.

What has pacers done for us this is not england or australia this is pakistan where spin should dominate just like how india does it thank god at last aqib got it right this should be our permanent route to win test matches in asia.

 

[Aami]

Only weakness is openers ..
and the skipper. Rest is fine.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan have made the correct decision by picking multiple spinners.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

do you know how much matches he has played since 2020 in all formats?

I don't care. If he's not playing test cricket I don't have much respect for him as a cricketer.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pakistan can definitely get away with a rank turner in one match. Anything more than that would be taking a risk.

I say prepare a rank turner in the first test and catch them off-guard. Really dent the confidence of their batting line-up, which I reckon is one of the weakest against spin.

Then follow it up with a flat pancake in the second. Give South Africa a taste of their own medicine. They did the exact same thing when we toured this year.

 

[The_KING]

You guys ever happy i love spin tracks where ball turn from ball 1 love aqib tactics that's the way to go india does so should pakistan that's the inly way to beat these sena teams.

Making rank turners that enable granddads like Noman Ali to look like Shane Warne isn't good for our cricket long-term.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Making rank turners that enable granddads like Noman Ali to look like Shane Warne isn't good for our cricket long-term.

Oh please leave it should we play so called fast bowlers like tapiya harris who are loosing matches with their pace get over pace i would even play sajid and noman in world cup these guys are proven performers will win you a world cup instead of useless pace.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Pakistan can definitely get away with a rank turner in one match. Anything more than that would be taking a risk.

I say prepare a rank turner in the first test and catch them off-guard. Really dent the confidence of their batting line-up, which I reckon is one of the weakest against spin.

Then follow it up with a flat pancake in the second. Give South Africa a taste of their own medicine. They did the exact same thing when we toured this year.

No why not tortue them with all spin i don't see them crossing even 100 vs our spin kamran and saud are key in these conditions maybe make tracks like england series where you get spin after 2 days.

 

[Major]

Why are they selecting players on the basis of Grade 2 performance?

PCB has lost its mind.

 

[Sachin fan]

where is naseem shah

Is this the 35 averaging Naseem Shah you are talking about?

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Why are they selecting players on the basis of Grade 2 performance?

PCB has lost its mind.

Oh please we got this with abrar noman and sajid we will smash these sena teams with our spin that's the way to go never play useless pace bowlers again who are run machine i would even select sajid and noman for world t20 in sri lanka where they can be deadly hopefully aqib does that.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Is this the 35 averaging Naseem Shah you are talking about?

Ya naseem shah is useless play your spinners win the series vs sena teams.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Saim Ayub dropped for not performing in T20's. Lol.

Imam replacing him as a Pindi road specialist.

I would expect they produce spinning pitches considering the number of spinners selected. Faisal Akram selection seems premature and I doubt he plays over Abrar/Sajid/Nauman. I would have just preferred if they let him get more experience in FC instead. Leggie's in general are non-existent in Tests these days and a left arm leggie even more so.

 

[Shaka81]

is Asif Afridi that 38 year old guy? What to gain from him.
Otherwise good squad. Should’ve been 3 test matches.

Alleged 38 year old. He looks well into his 40s. He's likely to never be selected ever again, so another totally illogical selection.