The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday revealed the playing squad for the first Test against South Africa with ace batsman Babar Azam returning for the match scheduled to begin on December 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
The star last represented Pakistan in the first Test against England in October. He was not included in the playing XIs in the last two Tests of the series.
The right-handed batsman, who has only managed to score 366 runs in 18 innings without amassing a half-century since his 161-run knock against New Zealand in December 2022, replaces right-handed opener Abdullah Shafiq, who recently registered three successive ducks in the ODI series against South Africa.
Shan Masood will lead the team with the batting line-up supported by wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan.
ODI series star Saim Ayub also made it to the playing XI. The left-hander was named the Series’ MVP for 235 innings.
As for the bowling department, Pakistan decided to go with an all-out attack in the first Test with Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shehzad and Aamer Jamal.
PCB also named all-rounder Salman Ali Agha in the final XI with batsmen Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam also arriving in the side for the Centurion Test.
Playing with the eleventh squad:
Pakistan: Shan Masood, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Rizwan (week), Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahza and Muhammad Abbas.
South Africa: Tony De Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickleton, Tristan Stubbs, Themba Bavuma (C), David Bedingham, Kyle Vereen, Marko Janssen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Patterson, and Corbin Bush.