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What should be the ideal Pakistan squad for the Test series against South Africa?

BouncerGuy

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Pakistan's recent 2-1 triumph over England in their home Test series has ignited excitement and anticipation for their upcoming clash against South Africa.

The previous squad featured key players like Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saud Shakeel, while Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah were rested for part of the series. As Pakistan prepares to face South Africa, fans and selectors alike are eager to see if the rested stars will return to the fold or if emerging talents will continue to shine.

Pakistan showcased its resilience and dominance in the recent series, with key contributions from 2 spinners Noman ali and Sajid Khan. Now, the question on everyone's mind is: what will the ideal squad look like as they prepare to take on the Proteas?

My squad is something like this:

Mohammad Huraira
Saim Ayub
Babar Azam
Kamran Ghulam
Mohammad Rizwan
Saud Shakeel (VC)
Salman Ali Agha
Noman Ali
Naseem Shah
Mir Hamza
Khurram Shahzad
Shan Masood (C) because I know he is not going anywhere
Omair bin Yousaf
Mehran Mumtaz
Sajid Khan
Shaheen Shah Afridi
 
Last edited:
Hyder said:
Babar in for farhan
Click to expand...
Yep changed.. Missed babar here.. Farhan is not gonna do anything in SENA.

Also I think, I have selected too many spinners for this series. Maybe Noman and sajid are enough. Replace Mehran with Aamer Jamal.
 
Considering the lack of talent not much changes req.

Saim
Shafiq
Shan
Babar
Saud
Rizwan
Jamal
SSA
Naseem
Sajid
Noman
-----------
 
BouncerGuy said:
Yep changed.. Missed babar here.. Farhan is not gonna do anything in SENA.

Also I think, I have selected too many spinners for this series. Maybe Noman and sajid are enough. Replace Mehran with Aamer Jamal.
Click to expand...
KG Salman will have tough time against good bounce
 
Kianig89 said:
KG Salman will have tough time against good bounce
Click to expand...
But cannot drop him after 2 games. KG needs to be invested in and given time. Yep, his game against pace and bounce is pretty bad but I think he should be there.
 
Kianig89 said:
KG Salman will have tough time against good bounce
Click to expand...
I agree babar should be there.but he can be in one of the spinner positions as saud,salman,saim can share the other spinner load .any how its south africa so u cant expect match to go in 4th day due to their attricious pitches.you should have as much batting cushion as possible.
 
Khurram fitness will be the key for this series if he is not fit then we have zero chance to pick 20 wickets also check with Haris if he can give his all for this series he’s the most likely pacer after Khurram to give a 6-40 type spell on those pitches and turn the game.
Shaheen and Naseem will be useless over there .
 
Xoib said:
Khurram fitness will be the key for this series if he is not fit then we have zero chance to pick 20 wickets also check with Haris if he can give his all for this series he’s the most likely pacer after Khurram to give a 6-40 type spell on those pitches and turn the game.
Shaheen and Naseem will be useless over there .
Click to expand...
Lol noman and sajid going to wrek havoc again vs this mediocre side who cant play spin.
 
Aqib_mustafa said:
Lol noman and sajid going to wrek havoc again vs this mediocre side who cant play spin.
Click to expand...
There will be zero turn on offer on those pitches if Ashwin and Jadeja can’t get any wickets there then don’t expect these two to get any we may not even play them or play at max one of them
 
Xoib said:
There will be zero turn on offer on those pitches if Ashwin and Jadeja can’t get any wickets there then don’t expect these two to get any we may not even play them or play at max one of them
Click to expand...
Well just because ashwin and jadeja cant get wickets in sa doesn't means sajid and noman wont get it noman is really always accurate knows how to set up batsmen and sajid bowl that attacking line i am damn sure they will trouble sa batsmen you got to go with your best bowlers and noman and sajid are
 
Aqib_mustafa said:
Well just because ashwin and jadeja cant get wickets in sa doesn't means sajid and noman wont get it noman is really always accurate knows how to set up batsmen and sajid bowl that attacking line i am damn sure they will trouble sa batsmen you got to go with your best bowlers and noman and sajid are
Click to expand...
Ashwin and Jadeja have been doing it longer then these two anyways I hope your optimism proves correct otherwise it’s another whitewash in SENA
 
Xoib said:
Ashwin and Jadeja have been doing it longer then these two anyways I hope your optimism proves correct otherwise it’s another whitewash in SENA
Click to expand...
I am not sure why we have to compare sajid and noman with indian spinners we all know those indian spinners always on bench whenever india play outside india but i am seeing this south africa lineup pretty mediocre vs spin and dont forget they can add value lower order runs which will be key is south africa.
 
Shan Masood (c)
Saud Shakeel (vc)
Mohammad Huraira
Saim Ayub
Abdullah Shafique
Babar Azam
Kamran Ghulam
Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
Salman Ali Agha
Haseebullah Khan (back-up wk)
Noman Ali
Sajid Khan
Aamir Jamal
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Naseem Shah
Mir Hamza
Khurram Shahzad


This is the most likely squad that Pakistan are going to select.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Shan Masood (c)
Saud Shakeel (vc)
Mohammad Huraira
Saim Ayub
Abdullah Shafique
Babar Azam
Kamran Ghulam
Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
Salman Ali Agha
Haseebullah Khan (back-up wk)
Noman Ali
Sajid Khan
Aamir Jamal
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Naseem Shah
Mir Hamza
Khurram Shahzad


This is the most likely squad that Pakistan are going to select.
Click to expand...
After seeing what an ugly hack Haseebullah is, I would try and find someone else in domestic

I would also stop investing in the useless Naseem Shah
 
gazza619 said:
After seeing what an ugly hack Haseebullah is, I would try and find someone else in domestic

I would also stop investing in the useless Naseem Shah
Click to expand...
Haseebullah has scored runs in FC and he's young. I would say he is still a far better option as the back-up wicketkeeper than over-the-hill Sarfraz who averages 22 in SENA and 16 in South Africa.
 
Aqib_mustafa said:
I am not sure why we have to compare sajid and noman with indian spinners we all know those indian spinners always on bench whenever india play outside india but i am seeing this south africa lineup pretty mediocre vs spin and dont forget they can add value lower order runs which will be key is south africa.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but that depends heavily on if the pitches in South Africa offer turn. South Africa in general is not considered to be a highly favorable country to spinners. Centurion is known for its consistent pace and bounce. Even when the wicker dries out as the match progresses, it generally offers enough bounce for bowlers willing to hit the deck hard. Cape Town is more famous for its swing-friendly conditions because of its proximity to the coast, and more true bounce. Although, we have gotten some seriously dangerous surfaces in Cape Town too in recent years with plenty of variable bounce. Case in point: the India v South Africa pitch from earlier this year.

Spinners generally come into the game in the later days when the pitch deteriorates. But even then the pitches in South Africa generally tend to have enough for fast-bowlers. So I think Pakistan's strategy will probably be going with one spinner depending on the composition of South Africa's batting line-up (whether they have more left-handers or right-handers).
 
In South Africa our spinners will get thrashed so perfect opportunity for Jason Gillespie to pick 4 pacers in probably his last series as Pakistan red ball coach.
 
gazza619 said:
After seeing what an ugly hack Haseebullah is, I would try and find someone else in domestic

I would also stop investing in the useless Naseem Shah
Click to expand...
So you don't want haseeb in tests because he failed in t20? these are the guys with high IQ lol
 
My 11 for the first game would be something like this because I expect RSA to prepare a spicy pitch & that's why I have added back Babar in place of Kamran and Fakhar in place of Salman.

Saim
Ab
Shan
Babar
Saud
Fakhar
Rizz
Jamal
Naseem/Shaheen
Khurram
Hamza

The issue is that we don't have a tall fast bowler & that's a need in RSA conditions. Khurram is injury prone so you never know with him if he's going to be able to make it or not. Spin duties can be taken over by Saud and Saim. It's tragic to see no 140+ kph test bowler play though, really troubling times.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Haseebullah has scored runs in FC and he's young. I would say he is still a far better option as the back-up wicketkeeper than over-the-hill Sarfraz who averages 22 in SENA and 16 in South Africa.
Click to expand...
I haven’t seen the guy bat, but what about Rohail Nazir?
 
I think Pak should keep the same squad used againt England but this time keep only 1 spinner in playing 11 because pitches in SA wont support much spin.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Pakistan's recent 2-1 triumph over England in their home Test series has ignited excitement and anticipation for their upcoming clash against South Africa.

The previous squad featured key players like Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saud Shakeel, while Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah were rested for part of the series. As Pakistan prepares to face South Africa, fans and selectors alike are eager to see if the rested stars will return to the fold or if emerging talents will continue to shine.

Pakistan showcased its resilience and dominance in the recent series, with key contributions from 2 spinners Noman ali and Sajid Khan. Now, the question on everyone's mind is: what will the ideal squad look like as they prepare to take on the Proteas?

My squad is something like this:

Mohammad Huraira
Saim Ayub
Babar Azam
Kamran Ghulam
Mohammad Rizwan
Saud Shakeel (VC)
Salman Ali Agha
Noman Ali
Naseem Shah
Mir Hamza
Khurram Shahzad
Shan Masood (C) because I know he is not going anywhere
Omair bin Yousaf
Mehran Mumtaz
Sajid Khan
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Click to expand...

There's only 3 pacers in the squad and 3 pacers...

They're only going to use one spinner and minimum 3 pacers and potentially Jamal to be 4th pacer. If it's a really spicy and pacer friendly track, maybe Pakistan go with 4 pacers (Shaheen/Naseem/Khurram/Jamal) and no spinner.

Probably more likely Pakistan end up going with 4 bowlers instead of 5 with lack of trust in their batting order.
Abdullah/Saim/Shan/Babar/Saud/Rizwan/Salman/Jamal or Khurram/Nauman/Shaheen/Naseem

Likely no point in carrying Omair/Mehran/Hurarira on the squad. No chance Hurarira will get his debut in a tough place like SA and I don't think a backup opener is required. Kamran is a backup batsmen and if an opener needs replacement, Shan would open with Kamran batting at 3.
 
Nasty Naz said:
There's only 3 pacers in the squad and 3 pacers...

They're only going to use one spinner and minimum 3 pacers and potentially Jamal to be 4th pacer. If it's a really spicy and pacer friendly track, maybe Pakistan go with 4 pacers (Shaheen/Naseem/Khurram/Jamal) and no spinner.

Probably more likely Pakistan end up going with 4 bowlers instead of 5 with lack of trust in their batting order.
Abdullah/Saim/Shan/Babar/Saud/Rizwan/Salman/Jamal or Khurram/Nauman/Shaheen/Naseem

Likely no point in carrying Omair/Mehran/Hurarira on the squad. No chance Hurarira will get his debut in a tough place like SA and I don't think a backup opener is required. Kamran is a backup batsmen and if an opener needs replacement, Shan would open with Kamran batting at 3.
Click to expand...
Nah i would play nauman and sajid both and watch sa batting folding like pack of cards because sa batsmen cant play spin doesn't matter pitch support spin or not period.
 
1. Saim
2. Abdullah
3. Shan (C)
4. Babar
5. Kamran
6. Saud
7. Salman
8. Rizwan (WK)
9. Jamal
10. Shaheen
11. Naseem
12. Khurram
13. Hamza
14. Sajid
15. Noman
16. Huraira (Optional)

Khurram holds the key for Pakistan bowling attack. If he stays fit he'll have a breakthrough series and the world will welcome a new superstar in Test Cricket.
 
GoUgandaCranes said:
My 11 for the first game would be something like this because I expect RSA to prepare a spicy pitch & that's why I have added back Babar in place of Kamran and Fakhar in place of Salman.

Saim
Ab
Shan
Babar
Saud
Fakhar
Rizz
Jamal
Naseem/Shaheen
Khurram
Hamza

The issue is that we don't have a tall fast bowler & that's a need in RSA conditions. Khurram is injury prone so you never know with him if he's going to be able to make it or not. Spin duties can be taken over by Saud and Saim. It's tragic to see no 140+ kph test bowler play though, really troubling times.
Click to expand...
I guess Salman Agha should be there for Fakhar
 
gazza619 said:
I haven’t seen the guy bat, but what about Rohail Nazir?
Click to expand...
Based on what little I have seen of him, I can't say I've been particularly impressed. He has been in the system for a number of years and has failed to make much of an impact. I think Haseebullah's international performances do not do justice to his talent. I saw him at the U-19 World Cup (2020 I think) and he immediately stood out as one of the finds of that tournament. IIRC he was even one of the leading run-scorers in that tournament. But there's no denying that he needs to play alot of domestic cricket because right now he seems a bit undercooked for international cricket.

Being a back-up wicketkeeper is not a bad way to give him some exposure though. Just because you aren't playing doesn't mean you aren't travelling, training with the team and picking up new things through osmosis.
 
I am not expecting many changes in the squad from England series. Babar, Shaheen and Naseem will come back I think. Also Noman, sajid might travel.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Based on what little I have seen of him, I can't say I've been particularly impressed. He has been in the system for a number of years and has failed to make much of an impact. I think Haseebullah's international performances do not do justice to his talent. I saw him at the U-19 World Cup (2020 I think) and he immediately stood out as one of the finds of that tournament. IIRC he was even one of the leading run-scorers in that tournament. But there's no denying that he needs to play alot of domestic cricket because right now he seems a bit undercooked for international cricket.

Being a back-up wicketkeeper is not a bad way to give him some exposure though. Just because you aren't playing doesn't mean you aren't travelling, training with the team and picking up new things through osmosis.
Click to expand...
Well if Haseebullah is the only backup option then someone needs to tell him that he looked beyond stupid against Australia. It is not about failure, it is how you fail.

Hope he learns
 
Im assuming South Africa is going to require a 4-pace attack

1. Saim Ayub
2. Imam Ul-Haq (he is killing it in QeA right now)
3. Shan Masood (c)
4. Babar Azam
5. Saud Shakeel
6. Muhammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Agha Salman Ali
8. Aamer Jamal
9. Naseem Shah
10. Khurram Shahzad
11. Shahnawaz Dahani
----------------------------
12. Haseebullah Khan
13. Sajid Khan
14. Kamran Ghulam
15. Mir Hamza
16. Nouman Ali
17. Kamran Ghulam
18. Abdullah Shafique
 
1) Saim Ayub

2) Omair Bin Yousaf (If fakhar isn't an option for tests fine, but please get rid of Abdullah shafique. Heck I'd rather have Imam back then this loser, plus omair has a terrific red ball record)/ Hurraira in tests can also be tried

3) Shan Masood (c) (I hate him but he's captain so no choice)

4) Kamran Ghulam

5) Saud Shakeel

6) Salman Ali Agha (he's okay in tests, shpuld bat higher then rizwan)

7) Rizwan (wk) (can't get rid of this guy even if I want to but atleast bat at no 7)

8) Sajid Khan/Nouman Ali (This is South africa, Idk if the conditons are suited for spinners as frauds like ashwin get exposed here, For now only one of these 2, but if I find it to be a spin haven then both should play)

9) Aamer Jamal

10-11) Ig Shaheen and Naseem? Honestly the test pace bowling cupboard is very low for pakistan.

Very tough series coming up for pk
 
mominsaigol said:
1) Saim Ayub

2) Omair Bin Yousaf (If fakhar isn't an option for tests fine, but please get rid of Abdullah shafique. Heck I'd rather have Imam back then this loser, plus omair has a terrific red ball record)/ Hurraira in tests can also be tried

3) Shan Masood (c) (I hate him but he's captain so no choice)

4) Kamran Ghulam

5) Saud Shakeel

6) Salman Ali Agha (he's okay in tests, shpuld bat higher then rizwan)

7) Rizwan (wk) (can't get rid of this guy even if I want to but atleast bat at no 7)

8) Sajid Khan/Nouman Ali (This is South africa, Idk if the conditons are suited for spinners as frauds like ashwin get exposed here, For now only one of these 2, but if I find it to be a spin haven then both should play)

9) Aamer Jamal

10-11) Ig Shaheen and Naseem? Honestly the test pace bowling cupboard is very low for pakistan.

Very tough series coming up for pk
Click to expand...
I will also include Khurram Shahzad if he is fit.
Imam is gonna make a comeback so he will open but he might struggle there in SA
Kamran and Saud have no real game against Pace but I am hoping for the best
Babar will come back as well
Shaheen should be rested. naseem should play as he is also playing QEA now so he will have a good practice.
 
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