Proteas take aim at Pakistan
KARACHI: PROTEAS HEAD INTO UNCHARTERED WATERS Biggest challenge facing the SA squad will be to adapt to the unfamiliar conditions in Pakistan.
The Proteas will play their first Test in Pakistan for 14 years this week, a match being described as a “monumental moment” for the revival of international cricket in the country.
The match in the port city of Karachi starting tomorrow marks a significant vote of confidence for Pakistan where international cricket was suspended following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team’s bus in Lahore in 2009.
Foreign teams refused to tour the terror-hit country on security fears and it was only in the last six years that Pakistan hosted limit
ed-overs series before Test cricket was revived for the first time in a decade with the visit of Sri Lanka in December 2019.
A tight security cordon has been thrown around the venue and Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Wasim Khan said South Africa’s visit was significant.
“These are very exciting times for fans and supporters,” said Khan.
England have also agreed to play two Twenty20s in October on their first trip to Pakistan since 2005, to be followed by New Zealand and the West Indies for white-ball series.
On the field, a dominant South Africa – having won 15 of the 26 Tests between the two teams with four losses and seven draws – will take on a new-look Pakistan with Babar Azam making his Test captaincy debut.
It will be a dream come true for Azam, who was a ball boy during South Africa’s last tour in 2007, but he faces a task to lift Pakistan after being swept 2-0 in Tests in New Zealand in the past month.
Azam is back to full fitness after
missing the New Zealand tour with a fractured thumb and leads an inexperienced 20-man squad with nine players yet to play a Test.
South Africa captain Quinton De Kock, whose team blanked Sri Lanka 2-0 at home in their recent series, said he expects spin to be a big factor.
“Their selections say a lot about where they want to go and how they want to prepare these wickets,” said De Kock, who has left-armer Keshav Maharaj as his frontline spinner.
De Kock cautioned that none of his squad have played in Pakistan before.
“Our biggest challenge would be the conditions that we could face because they are unknown to us,” he said.
Head coach Mark Boucher did tour Pakistan as a player three times – 1997, 2003 and 2007.
“I think Mark Boucher and one or two other guys who have played here would keep us updated and guide us,” said De Kock.
The second Test is in Rawalpindi from 4-8 February. –