Pakistan has dropped out-of-form opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez for this month's two-test series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates.
The axing of Hafeez was expected after he scored only 102 runs in the last five test matches this year, including three against South Africa and two against lowly-ranked Zimbabwe.
South Africa is the team against which Hafeez has always struggled, scoring only one half century and a total of 307 runs in 18 innings.
The selectors have named 12 players for the test series while three more will be added after Pakistan 'A' plays a three-day warmup match against the Proteas next week at Sharjah.
Abu Dhabi will host the first test from Oct. 14-18 while the second test will be played at Dubai from Oct. 23-27.
The test team will be led by Misbah-ul-Haq, who has also come under criticism after Pakistan lost four of its last five test matches this year.
South Africa whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 in February before Zimbabwe shocked Misbah with a victory in the second test at Harare last month to level the series 1-1.
Wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal returned to the team after being ignored for the test series against Zimbabwe while selectors also named three specialist spinners -- Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman and uncapped Zulfiqar Babar -- in the hope that the wickets will suit slow bowlers in the UAE like it did against England last year.
