Pakistan's Test squad for South Africa series: Shocking selections that made no sense

Shocking squad selection in Pakistan team [Source: AFP Photo]

The Pakistan selectors revealed the Pakistan Test squad for the upcoming home series against the reigning WTC champions, South Africa, on Tuesday. The series would mark the home team’s first WTC assignment in the new cycle, and they would be eager to kick things off with a victory over the defending champions of red-ball cricket.

The selectors removed several key players from the Test squad, but at the same time, they made some baffling decisions regarding team selections. In this article, we jot down the surprising Test squad selections that hardly made any sense.

1) Why a 38-year-old Asif Afridi in the team

In the T20Is, the selectors clearly stated that Pakistan management wants young, dynamic players in the team, but the selectors forgot to use the same logic in the Test squad selection. Pakistan picked up a 38-year-old Asif Afridi in the team, and the question arises, why was he picked in the team?. They already have Noman Ali and Sajid Khan as the two front-line spinners, and with Faisal Akram also in the side, there was no need for a fourth spinner.

Instead, the team could have invested in another batter to strengthen their weakened department. Moreover, there is also Salman Ali Agha and Saud Shakeel, who can chip in with spin-bowling, and hence, Afridi’s place in the side looks questionable.

2) Why Hasan Ali back after 1.5 years?

Hasan Ali, the right-arm seamer, last played a Test match for Pakistan in early 2024, and since then, he has been out of the team. In 2024, he only played a solitary Test, and in 2025, he is yet to play a game as the selectors made a surprising decision to bring him back in the side. Moreover, his bowling record at home is average.

(Hasan Ali stats at home)

• In-home Tests, Hasan Ali has struggled to pick wickets, and the stats tell the story. 15 wickets in 5 games, with an average of 35.93, sum up his performances. Plus, the team already has Khurram Shahzad and Shaheen Afridi as the pace bowling options, and they could have gone for a better seam-bowling option instead of Hasan.

3) Once again Abdullah Shafique in the team

It seems like Pakistan does not have a quality opener in their domestic circuit, as once again, the selectors have picked Abdullah Shafique in the squad. The opener has struggled for runs in recent series and the Men in Green sacrificed Saim Ayub to bring in Shafique.

(Shafique Test stats in last 3 series)

• The stats don’t lie, in the last three Test series for Pakistan, Shafique has struggled for runs, and despite it, the selectors picked him in the team, and the decision was once again baffling.
• In the last series against England, he scored a century, but despite that, he ended the series with just 132 runs, showcasing his inconsistency.

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