Misbah retained as skipper for South Africa Tests

E-Paper | May 10, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Misbah-ul-Haq was retained as Pakistan captain for next month's Test series against South Africa despite poor results culminating in a first loss to Zimbabwe in 15 years.

Misbah's position was announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday, but the full Test squad will be announced later.

The PCB also said 23-year-old batsman Umar Amin will skipper Pakistan A in a three-day warmup game against the Proteas.

A training camp for Pakistan probables will be held in Lahore next week from Monday, and 28 players will participate.

Pakistan has won only one of five Tests this year, and that against lowly ranked Zimbabwe this month. Zimbabwe, however, came back to win the second Test to square that series two weeks ago, its first win over a major Test team in 12 years. Pakistan hadn't lost to Zimbabwe since 1998. South Africa whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 in a Test series at home in February.

They will meet again in two Tests in Abu Dhabi from Oct. 14-18, and Dubai the following week.

Amin, a left-hander, lost his place in the Test team three years ago when he scored only 99 runs in four Tests during Pakistan's controversial tour of England in 2010.

The series was marred by a spot-fixing scandal after which three Pakistan players were banned for several years and Misbah became the captain in Test and one-day internationals.

The three-day match will be in Sharjah from Oct. 8-10 followed by the Tests. After that series will be five one-day internationals and two Twenty20s.

The A team includes Pakistan Test players Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Faisal Iqbal and Aizaz Cheema. Legspinner Usman Qadir, son of former Test cricketer Abdul Qadir, is also among the 15 players.

Pakistan A: Umar Amin (captain), Shaan Masood, Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Faisal Iqbal, Asad Shafiq, Ehsan Adil, Ahmad Jamal, Akber-ur-Rehman, Usman Qadir, Yasir Shah, Sohaib Maqsood, Aizaz Cheema, Imran Khan, Mohammad Rizwan.

Pakistan probables: Khurram Manzoor, Sohaib Maqsood, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Adnan Akmal, Abdul Rehman, Usman Qadir, Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz, Ahmed Shahzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Umar Amin, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah, Aizaz Cheema, Ehsan Adil, Ahmed Jamal, Akbar-ur-Rehman, Imran Khan, Mohammad Rizwan.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Sport

Sabalenka suffers early Italian Open exit

World Cup to hold trio of star-studded opening ceremonies

Leipzig seal Champions League berth

Farhan

Sep 26, 2013 07:23pm

Where is M. Irfan in the list of probables

Recommend 0

Muhammad HAssan Yahya

Sep 26, 2013 07:29pm

correction..misbah was only made test captain..shahid afridi was the one day captain till 2011

Recommend 0

Arif Shah

Sep 26, 2013 07:34pm

So Nasir Jamshed doesn't even feature in probables or A team?

Recommend 0

hamidik

Sep 26, 2013 07:34pm

OLD MAN BACK ON TOP - THIS COUNTRY SHORT OF YOUNG BLOOD - HOW SAD!

Recommend 0

Mudassar Siddiq

Sep 26, 2013 08:03pm

""Misbah retained as skipper for South Aftica Tests"". Inna lillah e wa inna allaihay rajayoon

Recommend 0

Mudassar Siddiq

Sep 26, 2013 08:02pm

Misbah is one captain who makes the weakest oppositions and ordinay bowlers perform their best. When you become so predictive defender team or a batsman, even a *choha* becomes a *Sher* in your opposition. God bless paki cricket

Recommend 0

Adil

Sep 26, 2013 08:32pm

Taufeeq Umer? He was doing fine until he got injured and had to pull out of the South Africa tour. Since then he has been completely forgotten - even though we have NO openers to speak of.

Recommend 0

Shahid

Sep 26, 2013 08:35pm

Where is, Taufeeq Umar, the opner who has been the most successful against the Proteas, and where is the best up-coming talent Haris Sohail? They discarded him after playing him a couple of times at No. 7 where he was made to bat in the last couple of overs of ODIs with a demand to slog. Mohammad Irfan is also no where to be seen. It looks as if it is going to be the same players who have failed over a decade. Hafeez, Asad and Faisal Iqbal are the front runners again. A recipe for a 3-0 defeat.

Recommend 0

Syed W. Ali

Sep 26, 2013 08:45pm

The biggest weakness in this squad is Hafeez. He couldn't even play in Zimbabwe, let alone the two series prior. In fact, in SA, Steyn had him for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And yet, he is still the probable? And in this important series, we are going to add a no-name minno Usman Qadir. Why? Oh wait ... he is the son of Abdul Qadir. That make it right?

Recommend 0

Hassan

Sep 26, 2013 08:47pm

Same old s**** players. Fawad Alam, arguably one of the top 3 batsmen in first class doesn't even make the list of 28 probables is a travesty. Probables are filled with bowlers and the apparent weakness area of batting is being filled by same old out of form players. Apparently, giving rest is not an idea anymore such is the player power. Selectors are fully sleeping until they have to announce probables. This current lot of batsmen with an exception of Misbah, Younis and Umar Akmal will not be able to bat 30 overs at the 2015 world cup. Azhar Ali bats like his life is on the line if he plays a genuine stroke. Faisal Iqbal is there to just get his match fee. Asad Shafiq will play Dale Steyn bouncers to short third man. Pakistani batting with these players has become a bad movie where you can't get out of the cinema ahead of time because you have paid the money for the movie.

Recommend 0

janjoaa

Sep 26, 2013 09:03pm

good thing is that Razzaq is back

Recommend 0

Shahid

Sep 26, 2013 09:05pm

Same old story, isn't it. What's the meaning with including players like Ihsan Adil, Mohammad Hafeez, Faisal Iqbal, Osman Qadir and Aizaz chema while leaving Taufiq Umar, Haris Sohail and Mohammad Irfan out. My team would be 1. Taufeeq Umar 2. Khurram Manzoor 3. Azhar Ali 4. Younis Khan 5. Misbah 6. Umar Akmal 7. Adnan Akmal 8. Zulfiqar Baber 9. Saeed Ajmal 10. Abdul Rehman 11. Junid Khan. I wont play two fast bowlers but go with 3 spinners. I would open with Junid and Younis.

Recommend 0

mian riaz

Sep 26, 2013 09:41pm

Where is Irfan, Shahid Afraidi and Nasir Jamshed

Recommend 0

Optimist

Sep 26, 2013 09:45pm

Why is Faisal Iqbal ans Hafeez still in the team and where is Fawad Alam.

Recommend 0

Jinnah Khan

Sep 26, 2013 09:54pm

@Farhan: Irfan has announced his retirement from Test cricket. He wants to concentrate only on ODIs and T20s.

Recommend 0

Anees

Sep 26, 2013 10:23pm

Aizaz Cheema,34, in A Team? What do you mean? Look at other teams whose A Teams are all players in the age group 20 - 27.

Recommend 0

Jawwad

Sep 26, 2013 10:23pm

@Farhan: Misbah said he won't be playing Test Matches anymore if they want to preserve him for the ODI World Cup.

Recommend 0

MCC

Sep 26, 2013 10:37pm

NJ needs to be selected. If Hafeez can be slected despite his medicore perfromance in the tests then why not give NJ another chance! Perhaps NJ lacks political backing! Clueless PCB peopleare wasting NJ like they wasted MY.

Recommend 0

cricketlover

Sep 26, 2013 11:37pm

The 'A' team selected reflects a 'trial' squad for at least two positions (No. 4 & 5) as well as one bowling spot for the regular Test line-up. So, here's experimentation a la Pakistani style. Good luck selectors! Note of Caution: It may be too late or too risky to hold off in the final squad composition if the 3-day game has any bearing on the team selection.

Recommend 0

Proud Pakistani

Sep 27, 2013 12:12am

Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq... how many time more will they be given a chance? Fawad alam not even in the probables. I think he definitely deserve a test chance. Faisal Iqbal once again will be tried against a tough opposition. Well, doesnt matter he is still better than the azhar and asad... My 11 Khurram Maznoor, Taufiq Umer, Younus Khan, Misbah ul Haq, Umer Amin, Umer Akmal, Adnan Akmal, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Usman Qadir / Abdul Rehman, Ehsan Adil / Rahat Ali

Recommend 0

shahid

Sep 27, 2013 12:12am

Where is Abdul Razzaq? He should be in probables.

Recommend 0

Umair Khalid

Sep 27, 2013 12:38am

same old set of failed players: Faisal Iqbal, Adnan Akmal, Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Aizaz Cheema, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Hafeez where is Harris Sohail???

Recommend 0

optimist

Sep 27, 2013 02:25am

Where is Fawad Alam? He should be in probables.

Recommend 0

WeCare

Sep 27, 2013 06:12am

Same setup and expecting different results. Having no plan is simply planning to fail. We are a nation that doesn't want to learn.

Recommend 0

Farhan

Sep 27, 2013 08:18am

Where is our most prodigious domestic batsman Fawad Alam?

Recommend 0

Patriot

Sep 27, 2013 08:51am

Team for ODI against SA should be as below, 1. Nashir Jamshed 2.Hafeez 3. Misbah (c)4. Umar amin 5. Umar akmal (wkt) 6. Razzak 7. Fawad Alam 8. Saeed Ajmal 9. Irfan 10. Junaid 11. Wahab Riaz/Umar Gul/ abdul rehman For Test 1. Nashir jamshed 2. Azhar ali 3. Misbah(c) 4. Umar Akmal (wkt) 5. Fawad alam 6. Umar amin 7. younis khan 8. Junaid 9. Abdur rehman 10. Ajmal 11.umar gul is that hard for selectors.. Based on the performances. this would be the viable options PCB should use.

Recommend 0

Marghoob Ahmed

Sep 27, 2013 11:00am

Nothing change........same old players

Recommend 0

Effy

Sep 27, 2013 11:33am

so sad, not to see Sharjeel Khan and Harris Sohail in the squad.

Recommend 0

Iqbal

Sep 27, 2013 11:35am

So here comes again the tuk-tuk, 40 year old captain, yet to score a century, with his defensive mindset, staying at one end watching his team loose the match --- because we don't have any aggressive captain in this nation of 200 million people.

Recommend 0

Ray

Sep 27, 2013 01:39pm

How can you have Umar Amin as a captain when Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are there. Umar has scored next to nothing so far, whereas the other two were instrumental in Pakistan's win over England. Both the batsmen have shown decent performances in their short careers. I hope this politics will stop and sense will prevail.

Recommend 0

Ray

Sep 27, 2013 01:41pm

@Umair Khalid: How can you put Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq along with the others? These are the only batsmen who have scored, the others have done nothing really.

Recommend 0

nasim khan

Sep 27, 2013 03:05pm

@Effy: Yes it is extremely sad not to see these two, now we have to talk about the defensive mindset of PCB & Selectors, who encourage Mr. Tuk Tuk Missssbah to be as defensive as he could be, so the blames not only lie with tuk tuk but the bigger blames should be put on PCB and the Selectors. At least one good thing in this team is minus The Damaad (Imran farhat) and aged Taufiq Umer.

Recommend 0

mehboob malik

Sep 27, 2013 03:34pm

I think we have left everything on Allah. Now the whole nation should start praying for the team.

Recommend 0

ADNKHAN

Sep 27, 2013 03:36pm

Very sad for Awais zia and Hammad Azam......you should plan to play in other countries like Azhar Mehmood is doing as Misbah and Hafeez will never allow talanted players to be in team challenging their own position in team

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 27, 2013 04:04pm

It is highly surprising, mind boggling, unrealistic, unwarranted, illogical, naive and uncalled for decision of the PCB, to say the least.

Recommend 0

Nadeem Qazi

Sep 27, 2013 05:20pm

Why Wahhab again please ?

Recommend 0

syed naseem

Sep 27, 2013 06:51pm

Parchi system at work. Shame on PCB

Recommend 0

Sep 27, 2013 08:38pm

@Patriot: Also include Asad

Recommend 0

Proud Pakistani

Sep 28, 2013 12:26am

@Patriot: Umer Akmal wont be able to keep in a test match.

Recommend 0

Proud Pakistani

Sep 28, 2013 12:28am

@Iqbal: Or you can say here comes the tuk tuk batsman coz there is not other batsman which can bat .. so atleast one end is secure while on the other end the nation's pride is pulverised .. tch tch..

Recommend 0

Proud Pakistani

Sep 28, 2013 12:33am

@Ray: do you live in the present times?

Recommend 0

Mike

Sep 28, 2013 10:25am

@Anees: That is 34 in Pakistani age, that translates to 44 in all other countries.

Recommend 0

gul khitan

Sep 29, 2013 01:00pm

playing with Faisl Iqbal , Azizaz cheema , i think its not good with taufeeq umar, who is already performing good, and pakistan surely can look for usma mir, and truely leg spinner and also with karachi off spinner and fast bowler must be groome under wasim Akram for more then six month contract and m rizwan under rashid or moin khan and batsman under great inzamam for more than six month please then we are able to find a telented younster in the shape of virat kholi, please give these young player an envirnament like Pakistan miltary academy kakul groome young solider for pakistan unless untill a big step cannot not be takien . We are not getting be able to produce a good team.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Master Group of Industries: Driving Pakistan's future through carbon negative innovation

By embracing clean energy solutions, the group continues to contribute toward lowering dependence on conventional energy sources and encouraging a more sustainable industrial ecosystem.

Climate uncertainty reshapes life in Pakistan as tree planting efforts shift towards survival

“The real work begins after the applause fades, in the quiet, daily acts of care that no camera records.”

Indus Cloud Limited, Indus DC REIT and UBL form strategic partnership to accelerate Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and cloud adoption

This collaboration marks a significant step toward strengthening the country’s digital backbone and locally hosted cloud services for enterprises and public sector organisations.