South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock has been dropped for the first time in his career, and will not play in the first Test against Pakistan beginning here on Monday.

"I am surprised and disappointed at not being considered for the first test," Pollock said on Friday.

The former captain, 34, is his country's most experienced Test player with 416 wickets in 107 Tests and has scored 3781 runs. "It is first time I have been dropped apart from fitness issues so it is disappointing because I know what I can still do and what my job is," he said.

"But obviously no individual is bigger than South African cricket or the team and it is a decision of the captain and coach that I have to respect.

"Coach Mickey (Arthur) told me yesterday that they wanted to go into the first Test with a different side and I won't be part of it.”