Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan Set to Miss Pakistan’s T20I Series Against South Africa

Pakistan’s main batters, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, are likely to miss the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa at home. Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, who was recently made the ODI captain, is also expected to be rested to manage his workload.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to Miss South Africa T20I Series Again

Many fans thought Babar and Rizwan might return for the T20Is, but with Babar still looking out of touch in the Test series against South Africa, the selectors are likely to continue with the younger squad led by Salman Ali Agha. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are set to miss Pakistan’s upcoming T20I series against South Africa, as confirmed by Geo News journalist Sohail Imran and Qadir Khawaja on social media.

The selectors are expected to make two or three changes to the squad that featured in the Asia Cup, but neither of the senior batters is likely to return. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have not played any T20I matches for Pakistan in 2025, including the series against Bangladesh, West Indies, and the Asia Cup. The selectors seem to be focusing on giving more chances to young players ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. In the 2025 PSL, Babar scored 288 runs with a strike rate of 128.57, while Rizwan made 367 runs at a strike rate of 139.54. Their last T20I appearance was in December 2024.

Pakistan likely to rest Shaheen Afridi for South Africa T20Is

Shaheen Afridi is likely to be rested for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa to manage his workload. He played in both Test matches against the Proteas and has recently been appointed as Pakistan’s new ODI captain. The report added that Khushdil Shah and Hussain Talat, who were part of the Asia Cup squad, are likely to be dropped. Meanwhile, Irfan Khan Niazi and Naseem Shah could be recalled to the team, while Haris Rauf’s participation remains uncertain.

With Mohammad Rizwan left out, Mohammad Haris is likely to continue as the wicketkeeper. The selectors may also keep faith in Saim Ayub despite his poor form in the Asia Cup. Pakistan is expected to keep most of the same players from their Asia Cup squad for the series.

According to reports, Pakistan’s T20 team will gather in Islamabad on October 25. A joint training session with the South African team is planned for October 26.

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