South Africa Test series set to mark monumental moment for Pakistan cricket
Pakistan have retained six rookie players in their squad of 17 for Tuesday’s first Test against South Africa
South Africa 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 Tuesday marks a significant vote of confidence for Pakistan where international cricket was suspended following a terrorist atack 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 limited-over 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.
“I would say that it’s a monumental moment that South Africa is here ater 14 years and everybody is looking forward to the matches.”
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.
If all go untroubled, then Australia will arrive for Tests and one-day matches next year, having not toured Pakistan since 1998.
“We have an exciting year ahead of us as our efforts are bearing fruit,” said Khan, a former England county player and ex-chief executive of Leicestershire.
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 lit Pakistan ater being swept 2-0 in Tests in New Zealand in the past month.
Azam is back to full fitness ater missing the New Zealand tour with a fractured thumb and leads an inexperienced 20-man squad with nine players yet to play a Test.
One of the uncapped spinners, Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan, is expected to win their first cap partnering seasoned leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
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.
“Those selections say a lot about where they want to go and how they want to prepare these wickets,” said De Kock, who has let-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 February 4-8 followed by three Twenty20 internationals in Lahore on February 11, 13 and 14.
The coronavirus pandemic means all the matches will be played without fans in atendance.
Meanwhile,pakistanhaveretainedsixuncapped players in its squad of 17 for Tuesday’s first Test against South Africa in Karachi.
Three rookie batsmen - Kamran Ghulam, Abdullah Shafique and Salman Ali Agha - will remain with the team, but the Pakistan Cricket Board said they will not be considered for selection.
The selectors had initially announced 20 players for the two-test series but trimmed the squad to 17 for the first test at the National Stadium on Sunday.
The second test will be played at Rawalpindi from Feb. 8 and will be followed by a three-match Twenty20 series at Lahore from Feb. 11-14.
The six uncapped players include opening batsman Imran But, middle-order batsman Saud Shakeel, spinners Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan and fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Tabish Khan.
“We know the home conditions and we have a chance here to play good cricket and win,” Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-haq said during a virtual press conference on Sunday.