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Babar, Shaheen in the firing line: PAK players who must perform vs SA to avoid Test exclusion

Debashis Sarangi

Babar and Shaheen must perform vs SA to avoid Test snub [Source: AFP]Babar and Shaheen must perform vs SA to avoid Test snub [Source: AFP]

On Tuesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a formidable 18-member squad for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. Led by Shan Masood, the hosts will take on the Proteas in two Test matches this month. 

While experienced batter Babar Azam will be back in action, the South Africa series will also witness the comeback of Shaheen Afridi to Test cricket. However, the focus will be on several players, including these two, who must step up with bat and ball to avoid getting snubbed from Pakistan's Test plans. 

Babar Azam

Why PAK vs SA Test series could be a do-or-die one for Babar Azam

Prolonged lean patch in Tests

Year
Runs
Average
202320422.67
202420220.20
202518430.67

(Babar Azam's Test stats since 2023)

  • There was a time when Babar Azam was considered Pakistan's most reliable Test batter. However, the stylish right-hander's Test form has been on a steady decline since 2023. 
  • In his last 13 matches, Babar Azam has registered horrible numbers, scoring 590 runs across 25 innings at a mediocre average of 23.6. He has slammed only three fifties in this period, failing to score a single hundred. 
  • These numbers suggest that Babar Azam is no longer Pakistan's Mr. dependable in Test cricket. So, he must perform in the South Africa Tests to regain the selectors' trust and revamp his Test career. 

No longer a captaincy candidate

  • Apart from struggling with poor batting form, Babar Azam's recent Test returns don't make him a captaincy candidate either. Although he has age on his side, Pakistan can't afford to hand him over the reins amid Shan Masood's middling performances. 
  • With Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman emerging as potential future leaders, Babar Azam's fall from grace could script his Test ouster if he fails to make his bat do the talking against the Proteas. 

Shaheen Afridi

Why PAK vs SA Test series could be a do-or-die one for Shaheen Afridi

Poor form in Test cricket for a long time

Criterion
Data
Innings11
Wickets17
Average45.47
Strike Rate76.71

(Shaheen Afridi's poor record in Tests since 2023)

  • Although Shaheen Afridi received a Test recall based on Asia Cup 2025 exploits, the star seamer has been far from his best with the red ball for quite a while now. 
  • Statistically, Shaheen has bagged only 17 wickets in his last six Tests, recording an ordinary average of 45.47. His strike rate of 76.71 is the fifth-worst among Pakistan's specialist bowlers in this period. 
  • So, while Shaheen makes his Test comeback after a year, the South Africa series could prove to be his last dance in the format if he doesn't live up to the expectations. 

Shan Masood

Why PAK vs SA Test series could be a do-or-die one for Shan Masood

Middling numbers as a batter as well as captain

  • 35-year-old top-order batter Shan Masood has been nothing short of a disappointment for Pakistan in Test cricket. 
  • In 80 innings, Masood has struck 2380 runs at a modest average of 30.13. His recent form isn't quite phenomenal, as he managed only 80 runs in two Tests against a depleted West Indies side at home. 
  • Additionally, Shan Masood hasn't produced results as Pakistan's Test captain. He has led Pakistan in twelve Tests, resulting in just three wins while losing the other nine. These ordinary numbers sum up his performance as a batter and captain; so, if Masood sustains his lean patch, the PCB will get a valid reason to look beyond him in Tests. 

Abdullah Shafique

Why PAK vs SA Test series could be a do-or-die one for Abdullah Shafique

Career on a downhill

  • Abdullah Shafique had a magnificent start to his Test career, slamming 823 runs at a superb average of 51.44 in 2022. 
  • However, the bowlers figured out his technical woes, as Shafique's career took an exponential downward turn from 2023 onwards. 
  • Since 2023, Abdullah Shafique has amassed only 531 Test runs at an average of 26.55. He had an average score of just over 15 in Tests last year, while his average of 27.42 is the second-worst among Pakistan's top ten batters across formats in this period. 
  • This shows that Shafique has already got a long rope despite not living up to the expectations. So, if he extends his torrid run against South Africa, we doubt if Pakistan will persist with him in Test cricket.