Pakistan has revealed its playing XI for the second Test match against South Africa, set to take place at the iconic Newlands in Cape Town.
After a narrow defeat in the first Test, where South Africa edged out Pakistan by two wickets to secure their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, the visitors are determined to bounce back and level the two-match series.
| Shan Masood (c) |
| Saim Ayub |
| Babar Azam |
| Kamran Ghulam |
| Saud Shakeel |
| Mohammad Rizwan (wk) |
| Salman Agha |
| Aamer Jamal |
| Khurram Shahzad |
| Mohammad Abbas |
| Mir Hamza |
Pakistan will look to salvage the series after their heartbreaking loss in the first Test. Despite a valiant effort, Pakistan fell short in Durban, where South Africa chased down a challenging target with just two wickets in hand.
The defeat not only handed South Africa the series lead but also confirmed their spot in the WTC final, leaving Pakistan with no chance of qualification.
The playing XI for the second Test remains largely unchanged, except for Mir Hamza coming in for out-of-form Naseem Shah.
Shan Masood will once again open the batting with Saim Ayub partnering him at the top of the order. Babar Azam, the team’s premier batsman, will be looking to make a significant impact after a quiet outing in the first Test. The middle order, featuring Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, and Mohammad Rizwan, will be crucial in providing stability and runs.
The bowling attack, led by the in-form Mohammad Abbas will aim to exploit the conditions at Newlands, which traditionally offer assistance to seamers. Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad add depth to the pace department, while Salman Agha’s all-round abilities provide balance to the side.