Fakhar Zaman likely to return for Pakistan’s tour of South Africa

Fakhar Zaman is likely to make his return to Pakistan's squad for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa.

Pakistan will tour South Africa in December for a three-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series and a two-match Test series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25.

The consultation process regarding Pakistan’s squad has entered its final stages, with the official announcement expected either after the ongoing ODI series against Zimbabwe or following the first T20I, scheduled for December 1.

While the team management aims to give opportunities to young players, especially in the T20I series, senior players may be rested for the shorter format.

However, for the ODI series, Pakistan is expected to field a full-strength squad, with key players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Fakhar Zaman likely to make a comeback.

Fakhar’s inclusion in both white-ball formats is seen as crucial, especially with the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 in mind.

Meanwhile, Imam-ul-Haq, who has not played for Pakistan since December 2023, is being considered for the Test series. An exclusive training camp is also being planned for Test players in South Africa to help them acclimatize to the local conditions.

This camp, lasting seven to ten days, will be exclusive to Test players, as the all-format cricketers would have already adjusted during the white-ball series.