Pakistan will be aiming to break a 17-year drought against South Africa when the two sides meet in the second Test starting Thursday in Rawalpindi.
A series win would not only be historic but also lift Pakistan above the Proteas in the ICC Test rankings.
The home side last claimed a Test series victory over South Africa back in 2003, also on Pakistani soil. Now, following a dominant seven-wicket triumph in Karachi last week, Babar Azam’s men are firm favourites to clinch the series.
Should Pakistan win, they would jump two places to fifth in the rankings, while South Africa would drop from fifth to sixth.
This series carries added significance for Pakistan, as it is the biggest Test event hosted in the country since the tragic 2009 militant attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus, which forced international cricket into exile from Pakistan for a decade.
Hosting the Proteas is another milestone in restoring Pakistan as a venue for top-tier cricket.
In Karachi, debutant Nauman Ali and experienced spinner Yasir Shah proved instrumental, taking seven wickets apiece to dismantle the South African batting line-up.
Fawad Alam also played a key role with a gritty first-innings century that laid the platform for victory.
Captain Babar Azam, leading Pakistan for the first time in Test cricket, admitted the win was a much-needed morale boost after heavy losses in both Tests against New Zealand in December and January.
“This win was very necessary for our group,” said Azam. “The last series in New Zealand didn’t go very well. But South Africa is a top Test side and beating them was morale-boosting. We have been telling the players to be confident, avoid pressure, learn from mistakes, and do their best.”
However, Rawalpindi presents a different challenge. Known for being more favourable to fast bowlers, the venue produced 20 wickets for pacers when Pakistan beat Bangladesh there by an innings and 44 runs in February 2020.
With that in mind, Pakistan may rest Nauman Ali despite his Karachi heroics, and hand a Test debut to speedster Haris Rauf.
South Africa’s troubles in the subcontinent are well-documented. Their defeat in Karachi marked their eighth straight Test loss in Asian conditions. The Proteas batting order collapsed twice in the first Test, losing their last eight wickets for 112 in the first innings and 60 in the second.
Captain Quinton de Kock acknowledged his side’s struggles but expressed determination to change their fortunes. “I know our record in the subcontinent is not the greatest. We have won a couple of series here and I’ve been part of some, but now we want to find a way to alter that,” he said.
South Africa will likely welcome back opener Dean Elgar, who was struck on the hand in Karachi, while spinner George Linde could make way for an extra pace option such as Wiaan Mulder or Dwaine Pretorius.
Probable squads:
Pakistan (from): Babar Azam (capt), Abid Ali, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Yasir Shah, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tabish Khan.
South Africa (from): Quinton de Kock (capt), Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Anrich Nortje, Wiaan Mulder, Lutho Sipamla, Beuran Hendricks, Kyle Verreynne, Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde, Daryn Dupavillon, Marco Jansen.
