Pakistan removes Sajid Khan and recalls Babar Azam for the visit of South Africa

INN/Lahore, @Infodeaofficial

For the away Test series and white-ball matches against South Africa beginning next week, Pakistan picked up former captain Babar Azam on Wednesday, while spinner Sajid Khan was left off the roster. After losing the opening Test match against England in October, 30-year-old star batsman Azam was benched for the current limited-over series against Zimbabwe.

Beginning on December 10, Pakistan will play three Twenty20 internationals, three one-day matches, and two Test matches in South Africa. Mohammad Abbas, a fast bowler who last played in 2021, is also back in the Test team. Despite collecting 19 wickets in the 2-1 victory over England in the home Test series, off-spinner Sajid is left out because selectors are taking into account the less spin-friendly South African surfaces.

“To ensure that squads are well-balanced, we have adopted a horses for courses policy, and leaving out Sajid was an extremely difficult decision,” the Pakistan Cricket Board stated in a statement from senior selection committee member Aaqib Javed. The only spinner for the Test matches in Centurion and Cape Town is Sajid’s spin partner Noman Ali, who claimed 20 wickets against England. On December 26, the first Test will begin.