Pakistan’s cricket team is set to make two notable changes in their white-ball squad ahead of their upcoming tour of South Africa, scheduled for December. The series will include three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches, with the latter being part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.
According to media reports, the left-arm duo of Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq will be reintroduced into Pakistan’s squad for the white-ball leg of the tour. Both players have been absent from the national team for some time, and their returns are expected to strengthen the team.
Fakhar Zaman’s absence from recent squads followed a controversial incident when he expressed support for Babar Azam, who was dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the second and third Tests against England. Fakhar’s tweet led to disciplinary action from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), including a showcause notice.
This resulted in Fakhar being left out of the ongoing white-ball series against Australia and his exclusion from the newly announced central contract. However, with Pakistan now preparing for the series against South Africa, it seems Fakhar’s relationship with the PCB has improved, paving the way for his return to the squad.
Imam-ul-Haq, who has a stellar ODI record with an average of 48.27, is also set to make his return. The 27-year-old left-handed opener last played in the 50-over format during Pakistan’s match against South Africa in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Imam has been a key figure in Pakistan’s batting line-up and his return is expected to bolster the team’s strength in the longer format.
The Pakistan team will embark on a busy tour of South Africa, which will kick off with a T20I series. The three-match T20I series will be played in Durban, Centurion, and Johannesburg from December 10 to 14. This will be followed by an ODI series in Paarl, Cape Town, and Johannesburg from December 17 to 22. The Test series, part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, will be held from December 26 to 30 in Centurion and from January 3 to 7 in Cape Town.
