Imam-ul-Haq has returned to the Test team after nearly two years for the South Africa series, following his sensational run for Yorkshire.
Imam last played a Test match for Pakistan in December 2023, against Australia at MCG. He started the series by making a patient 62 in 199 deliveries at Perth, top-scoring for his side in the innings. He could only manage scores of 10,10, and 12 in the next three innings, before he was dropped for the SCG Test and replaced by Saim Ayub.
The year prior, in 2022, Imam had scored 157 and 111* in his first two matches after being recalled for the first time since 2019. He ended the year with 837 runs at 55.80, making three hundreds and as many fifties, ending as the second-highest run-scorer for Pakistan.
Imam gets a call-up for South Africa Test series, Ayub dropped
The opener replaces Ayub in the 18-man Test squad for the South Africa Test series, beginning at home on October 12. Imam’s return was likely prompted by his excellent run of form of late. Playing for Yorkshire, he ended the season with four tons and three fifties, including a career-best 159. He made 688 runs at 98.28, also striking close to run-a-ball (97.45). He then hit a triple hundred in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy.
He replaces a struggling Ayub in the squad. Ayub, whose last Test appearance, against South Africa at the start of the year, ended with him being ruled out due to an ankle injury, has scored 28 runs in three ODIs in 2025, averaging 16.90 from 21 T20Is. He scored four ducks in the Asia Cup, including three in a row at the start of the tournament.
Five spinners picked, Shaheen makes comeback
The side, led by Shan Masood, has five spinners, in Abrar Ahmed, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and newcomers Asif Afridi and Faisal Akram. Shaheen Afridi has been called up to the side after missing the South Africa Tests earlier this year, and will lead a four-man pace attack, alongside Aamir Jamal, Hasan Ali and Khurram Shahzad. Naseem has not been included in the side.
Alongside Akram and Afridi, wicketkeeper Rohail Nazir will also be in line to make his Test debut.
Muhammad Abbas, who picked up six wickets at Centurion in the last series in what was a landmark comeback after three years of non-selection, does not find a place.
The second match of the series will get underway on October 20, with the Tests being held at Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Pakistan’s squad for the South Africa Test series
Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
