The Pakistan squad for the two-match Test series against South Africa is out, with some key players missing. Both Saim Ayub and Naseem Shah were not selected, though Shaheen Afridi is back for the home Test series after a long absence.
Naseem Shah’s exclusion is interesting, as he’s regarded as one of the nation’s most talented fast bowlers and was once expected to be Pakistan’s lead bowler. But, he has had some difficulties lately and was left out of Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad.
In Test cricket, he did not participate in the two-match Test series against the West Indies earlier in the year, and prior to that, he played just one Test in South Africa. So, the question is: Why is Pakistan ignoring Naseem Shah?
Naseem Shah’s Performance with Shan Masood
Naseem Shah joined the Pakistan Test squad when he was only 16. While his performances were okay, he did not have the impact some expected. He has taken 60 wickets in 33 innings, averaging 35.13. This hints that he has had a hard time taking wickets as often as a top international bowler should.
Also, since Shan Masood became captain, Naseem has only taken nine wickets in three Test matches. His average has gone up to 42.55, and he hasn’t had a five-wicket haul since 2019. So, Naseem Shah’s Test cricket performance has been weak, and it got even worse in 2024.
Pakistan is now using a spin-heavy approach in home Tests
Traditionally, fast bowlers have been important in Pakistan cricket. Their fast bowlers have often been the stars, and captains have counted on them to make a difference. But, poor performance in home Tests over the last few years has caused a shift in Pakistan cricket. During the home Test series against England, they chose to create pitches that favored spin bowlers.
Pakistan lost the first Test of that series and then chose to field a team full of spinners, which helped them win the series. This plan continued against the West Indies, where they only played one fast bowler in the team. This approach is expected to continue against South Africa.
For the South Africa series, the squad has only three main fast bowlers and one seam-bowling all-rounder. So, Naseem Shah’s recent poor performances have led to him missing out.
Shaheen Afridi is Back, Along With Other Experienced Pacers
Pakistan’s three main fast bowlers picked for the South Africa tour have more experience in home conditions, with many wickets in first-class cricket. Also, Shaheen Afridi is back and appeared to be regaining his form in the Asia Cup. His pace was good, and if Pakistan decides to play only one fast bowler in the team, Shaheen Afridi could be the one they pick.
Hasan Ali has more than 300 first-class wickets, and Khurram Shahzad has over 200 wickets. These fast bowlers have experience playing on Pakistan’s different pitches. Selectors are trusting them to perform well against South Africa.
Pakistan Test Squad vs South Africa
Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Rohail Nazir (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Noman Ali.
