Abrar Ahmed celebrates after taking the wicket of England’s Ben Stokes in Multan on December 9, 2022. — Reuters
Pakistan may embody a 3rd spinner towards South Africa because the hosts attempt to sweep the sequence 2-0 within the second Take a look at in Rawalpindi, head coach Azhar Mahmood stated Sunday.
Pakistan beat World Take a look at champions South Africa by 93 runs inside 4 days final week with spinners taking 34 of the 40 wickets on a turning Gaddafi Stadium pitch.
Mahmood stated both leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed or uncapped 38-year-old left-armer Asif Afridi could possibly be known as up for the second and ultimate Take a look at starting on Monday on a dry Rawalpindi pitch.
Left-armer Noman Ali took 10 wickets within the first Take a look at whereas his spin companion Sajid Khan completed with six.
With the pitch in Rawalpindi more likely to flip extra because the match goes on, Mahmood burdened that first innings runs can be essential, whether or not batting first or second.
“The pitch looks dry … so you need to score big and not depend on the toss for a favourable result,” stated Mahmood.
South Africa can be bolstered by the return of skilled left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who missed the primary Take a look at with a groin pressure.
“Keshav is fit and obviously it is great to have him back,” stated South Africa stand-in captain Aiden Markram.
“He brings in great experience and a really good skill set.”
Maharaj is more likely to companion Senuran Muthusamy, who excelled with 11 wickets within the first Take a look at.
“It is really important for us to try to level the series,” stated Markram, who’s captain as a result of Temba Bavuma is injured.
“We are expecting more spin in this Test but it is an opportunity for us.”
Tony de Zorzi made a century within the first Take a look at and Markram stated the South Africans had “tapped into him” to grasp “what worked against the Pakistan spinners.”
“It is good to have someone with that confidence,” he added.
