Pakistan cricket team under the leadership of wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed have arrived in South Africa for a 54-day long trip.

The Men in Green will play three-Test, five One-Day Internationals (ODI) and three T20Is against the Proteas.

According to Daily Express, due to family commitments, leg-spinner Yasir Shah will depart for South Africa on December 20.

Sarfraz-led unit will open the tour with the first Test at Centurion from December 26. The second Test will be played at Cape Town from January 3 to 7, 2019, while the third and final match will be played in Johannesburg from January 11 to 15.

Fast-bowler Mohammad Amir, opener Fakhar Zaman and leg-spinner Shadab Khan are making a comeback in the five-day format.

Left-arm pacer Amir was dropped from the team after below-par performances in the Asia Cup, while Zaman and Shadab missed the New Zealand Test series due to injuries.

Opener Shan Masood is likely to fill the void left with the departure of veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, who retired from Test cricket after the series against New Zealand.  Backup wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has also been called for the tour.

Squad

Imamul Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain and wicketkeeper), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi.