Pakistan may embody a 3rd spinner in opposition to South Africa because the host 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 champion 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 may very well be referred to as up for the second and remaining 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 pressured that first innings runs can be essential, whether or not batting first or second.
“The pitch seems to be dry … so that you must rating large and never depend upon the toss for a beneficial outcome,” 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.
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“Keshav is match and clearly it’s nice to have him again,” stated South Africa stand-in captain Aiden Markram.
“He brings in nice expertise and a extremely good ability set.”
Maharaj is more likely to companion Senuran Muthusamy, who excelled with 11 wickets within the first Take a look at.
“It’s actually essential for us to attempt to stage the sequence,” stated Markram, who’s captain as a result of Temba Bavuma is injured.
“We expect extra spin on this Take a look at but it surely is a chance 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 know “what labored in opposition to the Pakistan spinners.”
“It’s good to have somebody with that confidence,” he added.
Revealed on Oct 19, 2025