Pakistan batter Babar Azam summoned for red-ball training camp ahead of South Africa Tests

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Sep 06, 2025, 14:41 IST

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Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam is among eleven players called for a red-ball training camp at the National Cricket Academy, commencing on Tuesday. Interim head coach Azhar Mahmood will supervise the camp, designed to enhance skills and assess fitness before the upcoming Test series against South Africa. This series marks the start of Pakistan's World Test Championship 2025-2027 cycle.

Pakistan batter Babar Azam summoned for red-ball training camp ahead of South Africa Tests

Babar Azam of Pakistan (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Babar Azam along with 10 other players, has been summoned for a red-ball training camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). The camp is scheduled to begin on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming home Test series against South Africa.The Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Saturday that the selected players will report on Monday for the camp, which continues until September 28. Interim red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood will oversee the camp alongside NCA coaches and support staff.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The selected group includes prominent players like Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafique, Ali Raza, Azan Awais, and Kamran Ghulam."The camp has been designed to provide players with support to work on their skills, as well as to assess fitness ahead of a busy red-ball international and domestic season. The players selected are those not involved in the ongoing Hanif Mohammad Trophy (four-day). In the 20-day camp, the players will train at the National Cricket Academy and will also take part in scenario-based matches," PCB stated. Mohammad Rizwan and Naseem Shah are unavailable for selection due to their commitments in the Caribbean Premier League 2025.Pakistan will face South Africa in two Test matches. The first Test is scheduled in Lahore from October 12, followed by the second Test in Rawalpindi from October 20.

These Tests will initiate Pakistan's World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-2027 cycle. Babar's inclusion in the camp indicates his continued role in Test cricket despite his removal from the T20I setup and exclusion from the Asia Cup squad.Babar's most recent Test appearance was earlier this year against the West Indies in Multan. In that match, which resulted in a historic 120-run victory for the West Indies, he scored 1(5) in the first innings and 31(67) in the second.The complete list of players selected for the NCA camp includes Abdullah Shafique, Ali Raza, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Salman, Rohail Nazir, Sajid Khan, and Shamyl Hussain.

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