New Delhi: South Africa have announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming crucial Test series against Pakistan, scheduled to start in Centurion on December 26. The Proteas will look to secure a spot in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final. Spinner Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder have been included in the squad.
Maharaj suffered a groin strain in the warm-ups during the first ODI match on Tuesday in Paarl and had to be removed from the team sheet just before the toss. He will undergo a scan later this week to determine the severity of the injury.
The SuperSport Park in Centurion is known for its pacer-friendly wicket and if Maharaj is unavailable for that match, it may not affect the team much. The last time, Proteas men played at the same venue, they went in with a full seam attack.
Rabada and Jansen are both currently fit and are playing in the ODI series against Pakistan but the likes of Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams will miss the Test series due to their respective injuries.
Mulder broke his right middle finger while batting against Sri Lanka in Durban last month and is in the last phase of his recovery. If he passes the fitness Test for the Boxing Day match, Matthew Breetzke will be released from the squad. He will undergo another scan to check the progress of his injury on Thursday morning.
South African team lost only one Test match at SuperSport Park, against India in 2021. They need just one more win to guarantee a spot in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC). They will face Shan Masood and Co. at SuperSport Park on Boxing Day and then at Newlands for the New Year’s Test.
South Africa squad for Tests against Pakistan
Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk).
South Africa announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming crucial Test series against Pakistan, set to begin on December 26 in Centurion. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
