PCB Finalizes Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series — Two Players Dropped

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized the 16-member national squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, set to be played on home soil. The final list comes after trimming down the provisional 18-member squad announced on September 30.

According to local media reports, all-rounder Aamer Jamal and left-arm spinner Faisal Akram are the two players who missed out from the final lineup. Aamer was being considered for a return to Test cricket, while Faisal had received his maiden national call-up. However, both players have now been released to participate in the 68th Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where Aamer will represent Lahore Whites and Faisal will turn out for Multan Region.

The highly anticipated Pakistan vs South Africa Test series will kick off at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from October 12 to 16, followed by the second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from October 20 to 24. The series marks the beginning of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 cycle for both teams.

South Africa, arriving as the defending WTC champions, is expected to pose a strong challenge. The series will therefore be a key opportunity for Pakistan to make an early statement in the new cycle and strengthen their red-ball credentials under the leadership of Shan Masood.

After the Test matches, the Proteas will stay in Pakistan for the white-ball leg of the tour, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs. The T20I series will be held between October 28 and November 1, with matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore, followed by the ODI series from November 4 to 8 at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium. The PCB is expected to announce the limited-overs squads soon.

Pakistan’s Final Squad for South Africa Tests

• Shan Masood (Captain)
• Abdullah Shafique
• Abrar Ahmed
• Asif Afridi
• Babar Azam
• Hasan Ali
• Imam-ul-Haq
• Kamran Ghulam
• Khurram Shahzad
• Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
• Noman Ali
• Rohail Nazir (WK)
• Sajid Khan
• Salman Ali Agha
• Saud Shakeel
• Shaheen Shah Afridi

With venues confirmed and the squad finalized, Pakistan will be eager to kickstart their World Test Championship campaign on a winning note. The home series provides a vital chance for the team to assess its red-ball depth and build early momentum in front of home fans.

All eyes are now on Lahore and Rawalpindi, where Pakistan’s top stars—including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan—will look to deliver match-winning performances against one of world cricket’s most consistent Test sides.

READ MORE: Mohammad Amir Confirms Final Retirement Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026