CENTURION: Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood termed experienced pacer Mohammad Abbas’s return to the team a ‘welcome development’ ahead of the first Test of the two-match series against South Africa, scheduled to commence on Thursday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday, announced the playing XI for the opening Test against South Africa, which marked the return of right-arm pacer Abbas, whose last appearance for the green shirts came in 2021 against West Indies.
Abbas earned his place in the national team on the back of stellar performances in this year’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) 2024-25, where he emerged as joint-second leading wicket-taker with 31 scalps in five matches at an average of 14.39 and the best bowling figures of 6/39.
“The return of pacer Khurram Shahzad, who did really well on his debut in Australia and the seasoned campaigner Mohammad Abbas is a welcome development for Pakistan’s Test side looking to bag wins in one of the toughest conditions for overseas teams,” said Masood.
“We know South Africa have done well in this iteration of the ICC World Test Championship but we have prepared for this series in the best possible manner as well after having arrived in the country at least two weeks ago,” he added.
Besides Abbas, fellow pacer Khurram Shahzad and star batter Babar Azam also returned to the Test side.
Khurram was sidelined due to an injury, while the star batter was rested for the remaining two Tests of the three-match series against England in October due to his string of below-par performances in the format.
The right-handed batter, who has only managed to score 366 runs in 18 innings without amassing a half-century since his 161-run knock against New Zealand in December 2022, replaced right-handed opener Abdullah Shafique, who recently registered three consecutive ducks in the ODI series against South Africa.
As a result, Pakistan’s Test captain Masood will now open the innings alongside in-form Saim Ayub.
Pakistan’s playing XI: Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas.
South Africa’s playing XI: Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (C), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, and Corbin Bosch.
