Pakistan prepare for South Africa with precious little first-class cricket
Most of the players in Pakistan's Test squad have not played first-class cricket since February
Danyal Rasool
10-Oct-2025
Babar Azam has not played any first-class cricket since January • ICC/Getty Images
Pakistan host South Africa for a two-Test series starting on Sunday, marking the beginning of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle for both sides. It is a battle between opposites, with the winners of the previous cycle playing the team that finished last. For Pakistan, it is also their first Test series since January, something their red-ball captain Shan Masood termed unacceptable at the time while hoping his side would find a way to play more matches.
More notably, though, Pakistan struggled to get their first-class tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, up and running in time to give their Test players match practice ahead of this series. Only one round of that competition was possible, from October 6 to 9. Even those games were severely curtailed by unseasonal rain in much of the country, and with most of the Test squad already in a training camp by then, only two were able to participate.
ESPNcricinfo takes a look at the amount of red-ball cricket the players in Pakistan's Test squad have played since their last Test.
Shan Masood - 4 games
The Pakistan Test captain's red-ball participation is one of the brighter sparks in the void. He played two President's Trophy matches in Karachi in February, shortly after the conclusion of the series against West Indies. He also played two matches for Leicestershire in the County Championship in September, scoring 90 and 111.
The Pakistan Test captain's red-ball participation is one of the brighter sparks in the void. He played two President's Trophy matches in Karachi in February, shortly after the conclusion of the series against West Indies. He also played two matches for Leicestershire in the County Championship in September, scoring 90 and 111.
Abdullah Shafique - 7 games
Abdullah Shafique has played the joint-highest number of first-class games among the players in the squad, though most of them were in February. His only red-ball game since was a County Championship match for Yorkshire with a batting-friendly Kookaburra ball in June, where he scored 5 in his only innings.
Abdullah Shafique has played the joint-highest number of first-class games among the players in the squad, though most of them were in February. His only red-ball game since was a County Championship match for Yorkshire with a batting-friendly Kookaburra ball in June, where he scored 5 in his only innings.
Babar Azam - 0 games
Despite losing his spot in the T20I squad, Pakistan's premier batter has been unable to fill his time with any first-class cricket. Pakistan's most recent Test in January was the last time he played a red-ball match.
Despite losing his spot in the T20I squad, Pakistan's premier batter has been unable to fill his time with any first-class cricket. Pakistan's most recent Test in January was the last time he played a red-ball match.
Imam-ul-Haq - 3 games
Imam-ul-Haq has been on fire for Yorkshire in List A cricket recently, but he has played precious little first-class cricket as he works his way back into Pakistan's Test squad. He played two President's Trophy matches in February and March, and one game for Yorkshire in the Championship in July, where he made 19 in his only innings.
Imam-ul-Haq has been on fire for Yorkshire in List A cricket recently, but he has played precious little first-class cricket as he works his way back into Pakistan's Test squad. He played two President's Trophy matches in February and March, and one game for Yorkshire in the Championship in July, where he made 19 in his only innings.
Mohammad Rizwan - 1 game
Another player who fell out of Pakistan's T20I squad, Mohammad Rizwan comes into the series against South Africa with extremely limited red-ball match practice. His only game since the West Indies series was earlier this week in the rain-affected round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he scored an unbeaten 123 in a drawn game.
Another player who fell out of Pakistan's T20I squad, Mohammad Rizwan comes into the series against South Africa with extremely limited red-ball match practice. His only game since the West Indies series was earlier this week in the rain-affected round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he scored an unbeaten 123 in a drawn game.
Rohail Nazir - 3 games
Pakistan's back-up wicketkeeper is a case study for how difficult it has been to play first-class cricket in this long gap between Tests. Despite not being part of any international team, his only red-ball matches were in the President's Trophy in February, where he scored two hundreds in three games to burnish his credentials.
Pakistan's back-up wicketkeeper is a case study for how difficult it has been to play first-class cricket in this long gap between Tests. Despite not being part of any international team, his only red-ball matches were in the President's Trophy in February, where he scored two hundreds in three games to burnish his credentials.
Saud Shakeel - 1 game
Saud Shakeel, the Pakistan batter perhaps more suited to this format than any other, has played a solitary first-class game in this period. It came in March in the President's Trophy, where he scored 2 and 45 for State Bank of Pakistan.
Saud Shakeel, the Pakistan batter perhaps more suited to this format than any other, has played a solitary first-class game in this period. It came in March in the President's Trophy, where he scored 2 and 45 for State Bank of Pakistan.
Salman Agha - 1 game
With his increased profile within the national set-up, Pakistan's T20I captain has been busy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that added responsibility has come at the expense of first-class opportunities. His only red-ball game in the last nine months was for Lahore Whites in the first round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy last week, where he scored 47 runs and took one tail-end wicket.
With his increased profile within the national set-up, Pakistan's T20I captain has been busy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that added responsibility has come at the expense of first-class opportunities. His only red-ball game in the last nine months was for Lahore Whites in the first round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy last week, where he scored 47 runs and took one tail-end wicket.
Asif Afridi - 3 games
The 38-year-old left-arm spinner's inclusion in the side gives away the kind of pitches Pakistan will hope to prepare against South Africa. He has never played international cricket and his most recent first-class cricket was also in February, where he took 5 wickets at 31.80 in three games.
The 38-year-old left-arm spinner's inclusion in the side gives away the kind of pitches Pakistan will hope to prepare against South Africa. He has never played international cricket and his most recent first-class cricket was also in February, where he took 5 wickets at 31.80 in three games.
Kamran Ghulam - 0 games
Kamran Ghulam, who scored a hundred on Test debut against England this time last year, has played no first-class cricket between January and now.
Kamran Ghulam, who scored a hundred on Test debut against England this time last year, has played no first-class cricket between January and now.
Sajid Khan - 2 games
It is a series where Pakistan's fate depends almost entirely on Sajid Khan and his left-arm compatriot Noman Ali. Despite being one of Pakistan's MVPs, Sajid has played little red-ball cricket recently. His last two first-class games, too, were in February and he took ten wickets in those President's Trophy fixtures.
It is a series where Pakistan's fate depends almost entirely on Sajid Khan and his left-arm compatriot Noman Ali. Despite being one of Pakistan's MVPs, Sajid has played little red-ball cricket recently. His last two first-class games, too, were in February and he took ten wickets in those President's Trophy fixtures.
Noman Ali - 3 games
The other half of that duo, Noman, is a similar tale. He hasn't played first-class cricket since February, when he appeared in three matches. If Noman, 38, is to light up Pakistan's Test arena at home once more, he will have to do so on the back of fairly degraded muscle memory.
The other half of that duo, Noman, is a similar tale. He hasn't played first-class cricket since February, when he appeared in three matches. If Noman, 38, is to light up Pakistan's Test arena at home once more, he will have to do so on the back of fairly degraded muscle memory.
Abrar Ahmed - 0 games
The fourth spinner in the Test squad is now Pakistan's premier white-ball option. But Abrar Ahmed has not played first-class cricket since January, despite being viewed as Pakistan's first-choice Test spinner before the heel-turn that led to the spinning tracks produced, which shot Sajid and Noman back to prominence.
The fourth spinner in the Test squad is now Pakistan's premier white-ball option. But Abrar Ahmed has not played first-class cricket since January, despite being viewed as Pakistan's first-choice Test spinner before the heel-turn that led to the spinning tracks produced, which shot Sajid and Noman back to prominence.
Hasan Ali - 0 games
Hasan Ali has had several injuries and gradually nursed his way back to health. He last played first-class cricket in 2024.
Hasan Ali has had several injuries and gradually nursed his way back to health. He last played first-class cricket in 2024.
Khurram Shahzad - 7 games
Arguably Pakistan's most successful exponent of the red-ball in this barren nine-month period. Despite Pakistan's clear preference for spinners at home, Khurram Shahzad threw himself into first-class cricket immediately following the West Indies series, playing four games in February. After that, he played another three games for Worcestershire. His performance in the County Championship was adversely impacted to an extent by the use of the Kookaburra ball, which is more conducive to batting and less to the kind of swing he likes to deploy. Even so, he took 6 for 42 in his first innings against Warwickshire.
Arguably Pakistan's most successful exponent of the red-ball in this barren nine-month period. Despite Pakistan's clear preference for spinners at home, Khurram Shahzad threw himself into first-class cricket immediately following the West Indies series, playing four games in February. After that, he played another three games for Worcestershire. His performance in the County Championship was adversely impacted to an extent by the use of the Kookaburra ball, which is more conducive to batting and less to the kind of swing he likes to deploy. Even so, he took 6 for 42 in his first innings against Warwickshire.
Shaheen Shah Afridi - 0 games
Shaheen Shah Afridi's waning interest in Test cricket is no secret by now. As his performances in white-ball cricket show signs of resurgence, there is little indication of what that means for his red-ball career. He has not played a first-class match since Pakistan opted to go spin-heavy, his last Test coming in October 2024.
Shaheen Shah Afridi's waning interest in Test cricket is no secret by now. As his performances in white-ball cricket show signs of resurgence, there is little indication of what that means for his red-ball career. He has not played a first-class match since Pakistan opted to go spin-heavy, his last Test coming in October 2024.
Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo's Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000