With seam-bowling all-rounder Aamer Jamal leading the bowling attack along with Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas, and Khurram Shahzad, Pakistan will enter the Boxing Day Test match against South Africa in Centurion without a specialist spinner. Kamran Ghulam has maintained his position but Abdullah Shafique has suffered the price for his all-format slump, which resulted in three consecutive ducks during the ODI series. After being benched for the last two home Test matches against England, Babar Azam is back in the starting lineup and will bat at number three. As a result, skipper Shan Masood is moved up the order to bat with Saim Ayub.
The bowling attack sees the return of Abbas more than three years after he last played a Test match, while Shahzad returns after a recurring rib injury that first ruled him out for several months after the first Test in Perth last December, and then again after the second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi in September.
The squad released Naseem partway through the home series against England, meaning allrounder Jamal is the only bowler who also played Pakistan’s most recent Test match.
“Since the Australia series, we’ve backed Aamer Jamal, even in spin conditions,” Pakistan captain Masood had said earlier in the day at the press conference. “He occupied the No. 8 slot and made it his own. There are different aspects to his bowling; he’s not one-dimensional. He’s handy when it reverses and useful at being the enforcer, and he’s equally skillful with the new ball. The best sides in the world have players at Nos. 7 and 8 who are allrounders, and who allow you to play specialist bowlers.”
Pakistan’s patience with Shafique, who has been struggling for form in all forms for over a year, eventually ran out. He has had a terrible 2024 in the longest format as well, averaging just over 15 in 12 innings, outside from his most recent awful ODI series. In Multan, on a surface so calm, England scored the fourth-highest total in Test history in the second innings, accounting for more over half of his 174 runs during this time. Only twice did he reach double figures in his last 11 innings.
Temba Bavuma, the captain of South Africa, had made his team public a full day before Pakistan did, delaying the announcement of their final starting lineup. The visitors debated whether to choose the safety of a spinner or to go all-pace, but considering the Centurion wicket that both sides agreed looked incredibly seam-friendly, they deemed that option unnecessary given the likelihood of rain and the forecast for portions of the Test match. They do have the option of Salman Agha, who bowls offspin, and Saud Shakeel’s part-time left-arm spin.
“Batting and seam bowling will be key elements to both lineups,” Masood said. “Both teams go in with the same ideas. South Africa have four seamers, and Corbin Bosch at No. 9, who’s an allrounder. You’ve got to trust the seamers to do well, given how the pitch is looking.”
Read More: Ponting optimistic about uncapped Australia opener
