Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized an 18-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, scheduled to begin on October 12 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Shan Masood will continue as captain, while the star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have made their return after being rested recently. The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.

Notably, seamers Haris Rauf and Saim Ayub have been left out of the squad. The Test team also includes three uncapped players—Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram, and Rohail Nazir—who could be making their Test debuts in this high-profile series. Shaheen Afridi has been recalled after missing Pakistan’s earlier Tests against the West Indies.

The squad also consists of experienced batsmen and spinners such as Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, and more. Wicketkeeping duties may be shared between Mohammad Rizwan and Rohail Nazir.

Following the Tests, Pakistan will host three T20 internationals and three One Day Internationals, with those squads to be announced in due time. The second Test will take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from October 20 to 24.

The Pakistani team began their pre-series camp under red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood and NCA coaches, building on the momentum from recent performances, including the Asia Cup 2025.