Pakistan’s white-ball captain Shan Masood (L) and Babar Azam pictured throughout a Check match. — AFP/File
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday unveiled the enjoying XI for the primary Check towards South Africa with ace batter Babar Azam returning for the match scheduled to start out on December 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
The star batter final represented Pakistan within the first Check towards England in October. He was not included within the enjoying XIs for the final two Checks of the collection.
The suitable-handed batter, who has solely managed to attain 366 runs in 18 innings with out amassing a half-century since his 161-run knock towards New Zealand in December 2022, changed right-handed opener Abdullah Shafique, who lately registered three consecutive geese within the ODI collection towards South Africa.
— PCB
Shan Masood will probably be main the facet with the batting line-up being backed by wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan
The star of the ODI collection Saim Ayub has additionally made it to the enjoying XI. The left-hander was named the Participant of the Collection for his 235 runs.
As for the bowling division, Pakistan has determined to go together with an all-pace assault for the primary Check with Naseem Shah, Muhammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad and Aamer Jamal.
PCB has additionally named spin all-rounder Salman Ali Agha within the remaining XI with batters Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam additionally making it to the facet for the Centurion Check.
Enjoying XIs:
Pakistan: Shan Masood, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehza and Muhammad Abbas.
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (C), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, and Corbin Bosch.