LAHORE, December 4, 2024: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squads for the upcoming South Africa tour on Wednesday, but the omission of opener Fakhar Zaman from both the white-ball and red-ball squads has raised eyebrows.
Aqib Javed National team head coach about the exclusion, Fakhar said that lack of form and fitness were the main reasons for his exlusion.
Javed explained that the 33-year-old left-handed opener had not yet regained the required level of fitness following a period of inconsistent performances.
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As a result, Fakhar was not selected for the T20I, ODI, or Test squads for the tour.
Another significant omission was that of fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test squad. Javed described this as a “strategic decision,” aimed at preserving Afridi’s fitness for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
Although Shaheen has been in strong form, the management decided that protecting his physical and mental well-being was crucial for long-term goals.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who had delivered a standout performance against England, was also left out of the squad.
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Javed acknowledged that this was a tough decision but explained that the conditions in South Africa, which favor fast bowlers, led to the inclusion of Mohammad Abbas instead.
Abbas, a seasoned seam bowler, is expected to perform well in the fast-bowling conditions of Centurion and Cape Town.
The tour to South Africa will feature three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches. The first T20I is set to take place on December 10 in Durban, followed by the ODI series starting on December 17 in Paarl. The Test series will begin on December 26 in Centurion and conclude on January 3 in Cape Town.
