The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled an 18-member squad for the two-Test series against South Africa, scheduled for the coming month. This series will launch Pakistan’s new cycle in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27. Shan Masood has been retained as the team’s captain for the longest format of the game. The selection panel has also included three uncapped players—Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram, and Rohail Nazir—in the lineup, signaling a blend of experience and new talent.
The PCB stated that the announced squad will be reduced in size before the commencement of the first Test. The South African team’s tour, which includes matches across all formats, will begin with the Test series. The first match is set to be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from October 12 to 16, followed by the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from October 20 to 24.
Following the red-ball contests, the two nations will compete in a limited-overs leg comprising three Twenty20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals, to be played between October 28 and November 8. The squads for these white-ball series will be announced at a later date.
In preparation for the Tests, the PCB has organized a pre-series training camp. The players will undergo training under the guidance of red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood and coaches from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) starting immediately. Players who were involved in the recently concluded ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup are scheduled to join the camp on October 4.
