The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squads for the upcoming South Africa tour on Wednesday, but the omission of opener Fakhar Zaman from both the white-ball and red-ball squads has raised questions.

National team head coach Aqib Javed addressed the exclusion, explaining that Fakhar’s lack of form and match fitness led to his omission.

While Fakhar’s absence has been a talking point, Javed made it clear that the 33-year-old left-handed opener had not yet regained the required level of fitness following his recent performances. Fakhar, who has been struggling with consistency, was not considered for selection for the T20I, ODI, and Test squads.

Read here: PCB unveils squads for South Africa series

Speaking about the rationale behind the squad selections, Javed also commented on the decision to leave Shaheen Shah Afridi out of the Test squad.

He clarified that the exclusion was a "strategic decision" aimed at ensuring the left-arm fast bowler’s peak fitness for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Despite Shaheen’s strong performances in recent matches, the team management believes preserving his physical and mental freshness is crucial for long-term goals.

In another notable squad choice, Javed explained the non-selection of off-spinner Sajid Khan, who had an impressive performance against England.

Javed acknowledged that leaving Sajid out was a difficult decision, but said that the conditions in South Africa, which favor fast bowling, led to the selection of Mohammad Abbas instead. Abbas, a seasoned seam bowler, is expected to thrive in the conditions of Centurion and Cape Town.

The tour will feature three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches, with the first T20I scheduled for December 10 in Durban. The ODI series will begin on December 17 in Paarl, followed by the Test matches on December 26 in Centurion and January 3 in Cape Town.