Babar Azam has been recalled to Pakistan’s Test squad ahead of the upcoming series against South Africa, set to begin on December 26 at SuperSport Park, Centurion. The right-handed batsman, who has not played Test cricket since October 2024 due to a prolonged dip in form, will replace Abdullah Shafique, who has been struggling with consistency.
Babar, currently just three runs short of 4,000 Test runs, has faced challenges in the longest format since his last notable score of 161 runs against New Zealand in December 2022. Over the past 18 Test innings, he has managed only 366 runs, with his highest score being 41 runs against Australia in December 2023. Despite these struggles, he has been included in the squad following solid performances in the ODI series against South Africa, where he scored 148 runs, including two half-centuries.
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As part of a lineup reshuffle, Babar will return to bat at number three. Meanwhile, Abdullah Shafique, who was dismissed for ducks in all three ODIs against South Africa, has been dropped from the squad. Shan Masood will move from number three to open the innings alongside Saim Ayub. Masood, with 38 Test caps and significant experience as an opener, is well-equipped for the role.
This squad change comes at a pivotal moment for Pakistan, who are hoping for a strong performance in the series after a series of mixed results in recent months.
