Pakistan name 18-man squad for South Africa Test series as World Test Championship cycle begins

Shan Masood to lead Pakistan against WTC champions South Africa in October Tests; uncapped players Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram, and Rohail Nazir included in initial squad.

Shan Masood named Pakistan Test captain alongside full squad list for South Africa Test series 2025.

Photo Credit: PCB

Lahore, 30 September 2025: The Pakistan national selection committee has announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27. The squad will be trimmed before the first Test begins on 12 October.

Shan Masood will continue as Test captain, with three uncapped playersAsif Afridi, Faisal Akram, and Rohail Nazir — earning call-ups to the red-ball squad.

South Africa, winners of the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25, will take on Pakistan in the first Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, from 12 to 16 October. The second Test will be held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 20 to 24 October.

Pakistan Test squad for South Africa series

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

Pre-series training and player availability

The pre-series training camp will run until Wednesday, 8 October under the guidance of red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood and NCA coaches. Players involved in the recent ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup will join the squad on 4 October.

Full South Africa tour schedule in Pakistan

ICC World Test Championship – Test Series

  • 12–16 October: 1st Test – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
  • 20–24 October: 2nd Test – Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

T20I Series

  • 28 October: 1st T20I – Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
  • 31 October: 2nd T20I – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
  • 1 November: 3rd T20I – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

ODI Series

  • 4 November: 1st ODI – Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
  • 6 November: 2nd ODI – Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
  • 8 November: 3rd ODI – Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

The white-ball squads for the T20I and ODI series will be announced closer to the start of those matches.

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