Pakistan's T20I and ODI squad for South Africa announced; selector Aqib Javed explains rationale behind snubbing Fakhar Zaman

PAK vs SA: Explosive opening batter Fakhar Zaman did not find a place in ODI and T20I squad despite stellar record on South African soil.

Sports Tak

• Wed • 04 Dec 2024

Fakhar Zaman

Highlights:

Fakhar Zaman has not been in the best of forms of late.

Zaman scored just one fifty in Pakistah's Champions Cup.

Interim white-ball head coach Aqib Javed wants Zaman to work on his fitness and regain form.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on December 4 announced squads for all-format tour of South Africa. While Babar Azam and Naseem Shah made a comeback to the Test squad, the notable exclusion from the limited-overs squad was Fakhar Zaman. The experienced campaigner who faced the flak over critcising selectors for resting Babar during Test series against Bangladesh has not been considered for selection.

Member of the selection committee and Pakistan's interim white-ball head coach, Aqib Javed said that Zaman has not been considered due to lack of form and concerns over his fitness.

"Fakhar Zaman was not considered as he is yet to regain form and match fitness," Javed said in a media released by PCB.

Zaman's recent form

Zaman has not been in best of forms of late. In the Pakistan's Champions Cup, the southpaw played for Markhors and scored 176 runs from five innings at an average of 35.20 including one half-century. In the last four innings in President's Cup, he scored 79 runs from four innings.

Zaman's ODI record in South Africa

The opening batter has a stellar record on South Africa soil. He has scored 469 runs from eight innings at an average of 58.82 including two centuries and one fifty. His highest score on South Africa soil is 193.

Young spinner gets nod

Left-arm chinaman bowler Sufiyan Muqeem has been rewarded for his record-breaking fifer against Zimbabwe in second T20I. Muqeem retained his placed in the T20I squad and was included in ODI squad as well.

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Pakistan's ODI squad vs South Africa -

Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

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Pakistan's T20I squad vs South Africa -

Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

Pakistan vs South Africa schedule

The T20I series will commence on December 10 in Durban whereas the ODI series will kick-off on December 17 in Paarl.