ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Pakistan’s cricket management and selection committee have decided to go with a lineup of seven batters for the upcoming Boxing Day Test against South Africa, which will begin on December 26 at Supersport Park in Centurion.
In-form Saim Ayub and captain Shan Masood will open the batting for Pakistan. Former Test captain Babar Azam, who returns to the playing XI after a break during October’s Test series against England, is expected to bat at No. 3.
Abdullah Shafique, who struggled in the recent ODI series with three consecutive ducks, will be dropped from the side.
The middle order will include Kamran Ghulam at No. 4, Vice-captain Saud Shakeel at No. 5, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan at No. 6. Batting all-rounder Salman Ali Agha will take the No. 7 spot in the lineup.
This marks the beginning of a two-match Test series between Pakistan and South Africa. While South Africa won the T20 series, Pakistan claimed a clean sweep in the ODI series, adding extra excitement to this Test series.
