CENTURION: High on their 2-1 triumph over England at home back in October, Pakistan will don their Test whites again when they take on South Africa at the SuperSport Park in the first fixture of the two-match Test series on Thursday.
Pakistan’s exploits against England — their only victories in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle — however, came too late for the South Africa series to hold any title-challenging meaning for the Shan Masood-led side.
For South Africa, on the other hand, winning the opening match would seal their place in the WTC final.
Making it difficult for Temba Bavuma’s side will be Pakistan’s way of maintaining the pride they had lately regained in the format.
“We are eagerly looking forward to measure ourselves against South Africa, who have always been one of the top sides in the world,” Shan said in a statement on Wednesday.
“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.”
Pakistan had gotten the better of England by employing spin-friendly conditions at home and unleashing spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali in the last two Tests to take their first Test series win at home in four years.
South Africa would be a whole different atmosphere, with the country’s pace-conducive surfaces requiring Pakistan to discover their winning formula away from home.
So far, Shan and interim head coach and selection committee member Aaqib Javed have decided to place their bets on the seasoned performers of the domestic first-class circuit in Khurram Shehzad and more importantly Mohammad Abbas — who returns to the Test side for the first time since 2021.
However, pace sensation Naseem Shah will be spearheading the Pakistan attack in the first Test, with his partner and the team’s mainstay Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested to save him from possible fatigue ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy.
For Shan, Abbas, given the conditions fitted to the side easily.
“… Abbas’s skillset is a valuable addition now, as we needed someone with his consistency and control,” the captain told reporters on Wednesday. “He fits perfectly in a Test attack and, ideally, should have a role in the line-up.
“… as we look ahead to South Africa, we need a bowler who can bowl many overs, provide control, and bring something different to the table.”
According to Shan’s examination, the pitch at the SuperSport Park seemed to be conducive for seam bowling, and he believed the ground was such that the scoring shots had a lot of value.
“It’s a high field, so we need to consider both batting and seam bowling elements in the line-up,” he noted.
“I think there’s nothing drastically different between the two teams in terms of the strategy or strength they will rely on. It’s more about the conditions.”
The three-pronged Pakistan pace attack will have the support of Aamer Jamal as a bowling all-rounder who adds balance to a line-up in conditions like those in Centurion.
Aamer, on his debut tour in Australia last year, took 18 wickets in three matches and showed ability with the bat as well, more than proving his place in the national Test side and Shan backed the right-armer for Thursday’s Test.
“He’s a multi-dimensional bowler, both for reverse swing and for situations requiring a little more force,” Shan said of Aamer.
“His batting has also impressed everyone.”
“The number eight slot is crucial in Test matches, and if you look at the best teams, they often have all-rounders at that position, which helps maintain a balance in the side and allows space for specialist bowlers.”
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.
Pakistan, however, haven’t won a Test in South Africa for the last 18 years. But their confidence level is on a high as they come into the Test series after whitewashing South Africa in the preceding One-day International series.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said his players would have to deal with the mental pressure given what was at stake.
“Whether it’s easy, whether it’s hard, we’ve got to find a way to do it,” he said. “Whatever, I don’t know, trauma that was there, you know, guys will have to deal with it.”
Teams (from):
PAKISTAN: Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas
SOUTH AFRICA: Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch.
Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2024
