Babar Azam back after 2 months as Pakistan announce XI for Centurion Test

After being left out of Pakistan’s XI for the final two Tests against England, Babar Azam is back in the whites once again as he was named in playing XI for the first Test against South Africa in Centurion, starting Deecember 26. He takes the place of the struggling Abdullah Shafique who, apart from averaging 15.81 in Tests this year, recently became the first opener in history to register three ducks in a three-match bilateral ODI series.

Babar’s return means that skipper Shan Masood will open the batting alongside Saim Ayub. Masood started his Test career as an opener but the left-hander has not opened the batting in Tests since 2022.

Khurram Shahzad and Aamir Jamal, both of whom impressed in Australia last year, were also been named in the playing 11 but the biggest news on the bowling front was the return of veteran Mohammad Abbas. The 34-year-old averages 23.02 in Tests but had last donned the whites for Pakistan back in 2021.

Abbas has prior experience of playing Tests in South Africa. In 2019, he had an ordinary tour, taking just five wickets in two Tests at an average of 46.20.

Pakistan’s pace attack will be led by Naseem Shah. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha will take up spin duties for the side. 

South Africa have also already named their starting XI and the hosts have opted to go with an all-pace attack, handing a maiden Test cap to Corbin Bosch.

Pakistan XI for Centurion Test

Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas