Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and non appointive to bat within the initial take a look at against South Africa beginning at Centurion Park on Wednesday.
The pitch has smart grass cowl, which is able to bring a troublesome initial hour for the visiting hitter, however with the wicket possible to possess a variable bounce on days four and 5, Pakistan can hope to be able to set South Africa a troublesome target.
“The initial hour are going to be vital, we’ve to play positive cricket to try to to well here in South Africa,” Ahmed same.
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Pakistan have lost middle order hitter Haris Sohail to injury and he’s replaced by Shan Masood, Masood, whereas lead seamer Mohammad Abbas has not recovered from a shoulder drawback, however is probably going to play within the second take a look at in Cape Town.
Abbas is replaced by Mohammad Amir, who last contend within the take a look at series in England in June.
South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis admitted he would have batted initial too, however is tasting the prospect to unleash his seamers, as well as Dale Steyn, who is one scalp removed from turning into the country’s outright incomparable leading take a look at wicket-taker, on Pakistan.
“We would have batted initial, the wicket could be a bit slow within the initial innings however the chance lies with the bowling facet within the initial hour,” Du Plessis said.
“With the warmth and also the cracks on day four and 5 it will begin to play up and down.”
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South Africa are without seamers Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi, handing Duanne Olivier a recall for his sixth Test.
Pakistan have won just one of their previous take a look at series home and away against the Proteas, and lost 3-0 on their last visit to the country in 2013.
They have won solely four of their twenty three Tests in the least venues against the South Africans.
Teams:
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis (captain), Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi
