Babar, Naseem back but Shaheen left out of South Africa Tests

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dropped a bombshell as Shaheen Afridi was not named in the Test squad for the tour of South Africa on December 4 (Wednesday). However, the left-arm pacer managed to secure a position in the limited-overs side for the tour.

Babar Azam and Naseem Shah, who missed the last two Tests for Pakistan against England, have found a way back into the red-ball scheme of things. 

Mohammad Rizwan will lead the white-ball team, and he will look to continue the winning way after having secured a rare ODI series win in Australia on his first-ever tour Down Under as skipper.

Sajid Khan has not been included in the Test squad. Noman Ali is the lone specialist spinner, and Salman Ali Agha is the other spin-blowing option in the two-match series. Haseebullah is the reserve wicketkeeper in the side, and he was rewarded for his brilliant showing in the Champions Cup at home.

As for the white-ball teams, Naseem has not been named in the T20I side. Omair Bin Yousuf, Jahandad Khan and Abbas Afridi are three names that have been named only in the T20I side.

The tour will begin with the first T20I of the three-match series on December 10, with ODIs beginning on December 22. Meanwhile, the two-match Test series will begin on December 26 and January 7, respectively. 

Pakistan's squad for the South Africa series

Tests: Shan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel (vice-capt), 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

ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (wk)

T20Is: Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), 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 Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (wk)

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