Pak, SA lock horns in first Test today

PRETORIA:

Pakistan are set to feature in a two-match Test series against South Africa, beginning with the Boxing Day Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday (today) followed by the Cape Town Test at the Newlands Cricket Ground beginning from Friday, 3 January.

Members of the Pakistan's Test squad reached South Africa on 13 December in order to prepare well and acclimatise with the local conditions.

The Pak team management has decided to include Babar Azam, who is just three runs short of completing 4,000 runs in Test cricket, in the first Test. Babar has scored 3,997 runs in 55 Test matches at an average of 54.46, with nine centuries.

To make room for the star batter, out-of-form opener Abdullah Shafique, who was dismissed for a duck in all three ODIs against South Africa, has been dropped from the Test squad and, as a result, captain Shan Masood will open the innings alongside Saim Ayub.

The Test squad has also seen return of the experienced fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, who last played for Pakistan against West Indies in August 2021. He has forced his way back in the squad with 31 scalps in five Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches this season.

Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who was ruled out of the three-match home Test series against England due to injury has returned to the squad too.

Aqib Javed is the interim head coach of Pakistan men's team and this will be his first red-ball series after taking the charge in the white-ball series against Zimbabwe last month.

Pakistan and South Africa have played each other in 12 Test series since 1995, out of which seven have been won by South Africa while Pakistan emerged victorious in two, while three ended-up as draws. In the recent most Test series between the two nations, Pakistan beat South Africa 2-0 at home in Jan-Feb 2021.

Pak captain Shan Masood speaks:

"We are eagerly looking forward to measure ourselves against South Africa, who have always been one of the top sides in the world. We have got some momentum from the recently concluded home Test series against England and the ODI series which featured a number of our Test squad members.

"The return of pacer Khurram Shahzad, who did really well on his debut in Australia and the seasoned campaigner Mohammad Abbas is a welcome development for Pakistan's Test side looking to bag wins in one of the toughest conditions for overseas teams," said Shan on Wednesday in an interaction with the media.

"We know South Africa have done well in this iteration of the ICC World Test Championship but we have prepared for this series in the best possible manner as well after having arrived in the country at least two weeks ago."

Meanwhile, hosts South Africa will field debutant Corbin Bosch in their first Test against Pakistan, starting on Boxing Day, as captain Temba Bavuma revealed the line-up on Tuesday.

Bosch features in an all-seamer bowling line-up and will be playing on his home ground at Centurion, winning a Test cap just days after making his one day international debut on Sunday, hitting 40 not out and taking one wicket as South Africa lost to Pakistan at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

The 30-year-old Bosch joins Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Dane Paterson in the home attack. "It's one thing making your debut, but then to make it where you've made a name for yourself in the provincial setup is another thing," Bavuma said of Bosch at a press conference.

"I think Corbin adds an extra element to our bowling attack, he comes with the extra pace. Obviously, a big, strong guy as well, so one of the guys who can hit the deck hard and is a handy batsman too."

South Africa are chasing a win that would guarantee them a place in next June's World Test Championship, as they sit top of the standings after winning their last five Tests.

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha.

South Africa squad: Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper), Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson.