The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the Test, ODI, and T20I squads for the upcoming South Africa tour. After completing the ongoing Zimbabwe tour, where Pakistan have played a three-match ODI series and are playing another three-match T20I series, Pakistan will tour South Africa. After losing the first ODI, Pakistan won the ODI series against the hosts Zimbabwe by 2-1. On the other hand, while the last T20I will be played on December 5, Pakistan have already secured the T20I series by leading it 2-0. 

In the South Africa tour, Pakistan will play a three-match T20I series, a three-match ODI series, and a two-match Test series. The Test series will be a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. 

While Mohammad Rizwan will lead the T20I and ODI teams, Shan Masood will lead the Pakistan Test side. The T20I series, ODI series, and Test series will start on December 10, December 17, and December 26, respectively.

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Shaheen Shah Afridi is out of the Test squad

Last October, Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi were dropped from the Test squad after losing the opening game of the home Test series against England. While Babar and Naseem have joined the Test squad for the South Africa tour, Shaheen Shah Afridi hasn’t been included in the Test team. For the South Africa tour, Babar is in all three squads, while Afridi is missing from the Test team, and Naseem will play in the ODI and Test series. 

Mohammad Abbas, who last played a Test match for Pakistan in 2021, has returned to the Test squad. While the left-arm spinner Noman Ali will travel to South Africa for the Test series, the off-spinner Sajid Khan has been dropped only due to pace-friendly conditions.

Pakistan never won a Test series in South Africa

Pakistan have won two T20I series, and two ODI series but have won only two Tests and never won a Test series. Pakistan drew a Test series in South Africa in 1998, where they recorded their first Test win in South Africa, and won their last Test match in 2007. 

Pakistan's full squad for South Africa tour

T20Is: Mohammad Rizwan (Captain, 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).

ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (Captain, 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).

Tests: Shan Masood (Captain), 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.