Pakistan Players Join Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Before South Africa Tests

Pakistan has tactfully freed four of its 18-man squad to play the first round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) in advance of the high-profile Test series with South Africa. Sources said Mohammad Rizwan, Hasan Ali, Salman Ali Agha, and Sajid Khan will participate in the premier first-class tournament and then rejoin the national team.

These players have been given good competitive exposure through the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), led by chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Rizwan and Sajid will represent the Peshawar Region, and T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha will represent Sialkot.

Hasan Ali is a veteran pacer who will be lining up for the Lahore Whites. This rotation will keep all players fit and help them adapt to the longer format before they challenge the current ICC World Test Championship champions, South Africa.

The time at which the decision was made matters. The initial phase of the QEAT will end on October 9, providing the players with a few days to rejoin the national team in time to play the first Test in Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on October 12. It will then shift to Rawalpindi, where the second Test will start on October 20.

Pakistan hopes to create momentum by including domestic cricket in its preparations and achieving a balance between fitness, form, and discipline. The shift also indicates PCB’s desire to strengthen the connection between domestic and international cricket to enable players to polish their techniques when they are under pressure.

Not only is the next South Africa series a significant home event, but it will also be the start of Pakistan’s ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign. As defending champions, the additional match practice might be critical to Rizwan, Hasan, Agha, and Sajid in determining Pakistan’s fate.

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