ZCZC
BSP-09
CRICKET-RSA-PAK-TOUR
Pakistan seek batting form in South Africa tour opener
JOHANNESBURG, Dec 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Pakistan’s batsmen will seek form
when they open their tour of South Africa with a three-day match against a
South African Invitation XI at Willowmoore Park in Benoni Wednesday.
It is the only game for the tourists before the first of three Tests
starts in Centurion on December 26.
Pakistan twice suffered fourth-innings batting collapses in losing a
recent Test series against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates.
Both captain Sarfraz Ahmed and coach Mickey Arthur acknowledged on arrival
in South Africa that posting competitive totals was crucial if they are to
match the hosts in what is shaping as a battle between two teams with strong
bowling attacks.
With the warm-up match clashing with the resumption of South Africa’s
four-day franchise competition, the Invitation XI is drawn from the country’s
second-tier provincial competition.
The opposition is unlikely to be especially challenging, but it is an
opportunity for the Pakistanis to get used to local conditions at a ground
just 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the venue for the first Test.
Arthur, who coached South Africa from 2005 until 2010, told journalists he
believed his young batsmen will cope better with conditions in South Africa
than the low, slow pitches of the UAE.
“There are some very talented young batsmen there. They don’t stand on leg
stump anymore. Our batsmen get to off stump, they cover the bounce, they
cover the pace and they cover the swing.”
Even so, the Tests are likely to be a major challenge in a country where
Pakistan have won only two Tests while losing nine on five tours.
South Africa’s bowling will be spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and fit-again
Dale Steyn, although the hosts will be without the retired Morne Morkel and
Lungi Ngidi, who has a long-term injury.
Vernon Philander is a serious doubt for the first Test because of a
hairline fracture on his right thumb.
Pakistan have their own injury concerns, with fast bowler Mohammad Abbas
and opening batsman Fakhar Zaman undergoing treatment in a bid to get them
fit for the first Test.
The Tests will be followed by five one-day internationals in which both
teams will be looking to settle on combinations ahead of the Cricket World
Cup in England and Wales, starting on May 30.
There will also be three Twenty20 internationals — a format in which
Pakistan top the international rankings.
Test squad
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt/wkt), Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam,
Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan
Masood, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen
Afridi, Yasir Shah
BSS/AFP/MSY/1024 hrs