Pakistan named five spinners and brought back fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi in an 18-man roster for two Tests against South Africa beginning Oct. 12 in Lahore. The squad features spin specialists Noman Ali and Sajid Khan alongside Abrar Ahmed, Faisal Akram and 38-year-old veteran Asif Afridi under captain Shan Masood. Shaheen returns to red-ball cricket after missing the format for one year while uncapped wicketkeeper Rohail Nazir will back up Mohammad Rizwan.
Pakistan deployed industrial fans and patio heaters last year to create spin-friendly surfaces that helped defeat England 2-1 after losing the opening Test by an innings. Noman claimed 20 wickets and Sajid took 19 in the final two matches of that series. The Rawalpindi Test follows from Oct. 20 as both teams start their World Test Championship fourth-cycle campaigns after South Africa won the 2023-2025 title and Pakistan placed last among nine nations.
Pakistan deployed industrial fans and patio heaters last year to create spin-friendly surfaces that helped defeat England 2-1 after losing the opening Test by an innings. Noman claimed 20 wickets and Sajid took 19 in the final two matches of that series. The Rawalpindi Test follows from Oct. 20 as both teams start their World Test Championship fourth-cycle campaigns after South Africa won the 2023-2025 title and Pakistan placed last among nine nations.
