SA vs PAK: Babar Azam returns as Pakistan announces playing XI for first Test against South Africa
SA vs PAK: Babar Azam returns as Pakistan announces playing XI for first Test against South Africa
Pakistan announced its playing XI for the first Test against South Africa, which begins from Thursday at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Former skipper Babar Azam, who was dropped after the first Test against England in Multan in October, has returned to the side. Meanwhile, Kamran Ghulam, who made his Test debut in the absence of Azam during the England series, has retained his spot in the team.
Pakistan hasn’t fielded a specialist spinner for the first of the two Tests, and has instead opted for a four-man pace attack.
The Shan Masood-led side is coming off a 2-1 series win at home against England in the longest format after suffering a humiliating 0-2 defeat against Bangladesh in its own backyard.
Pakistan swept the Proteas 3-0 in the recently concluded One-Day International series after conceding a 0-2 defeat in the T20I leg of the tour.
The second Test will be held from January 3 in Cape Town.
