South Africa’s Test Squad Announced for Series Against Pakistan

• Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder are included in the squad despite injury concerns.
• The squad includes seven players from the current ODI squad, with limited roles in the Test series.
• The series against Pakistan is crucial for South Africa to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final.

South Africa has opted to include Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder in their squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Pakistan, despite both players facing injury concerns.

Maharaj, who suffered a groin strain during warm-ups for the first ODI against Pakistan, was withdrawn from the playing XI just before the match. He will undergo a scan to assess the injury’s severity, and if ruled out, left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy is the only spin alternative in the squad.

Mulder, recovering from a right middle finger fracture sustained during South Africa’s match against Sri Lanka last month, is expected to be available for selection if cleared by medical staff. Should he return to full fitness, top-order batter Matthew Breetzke will be released from the squad to make way for Mulder.

In a significant development, South Africa has named two uncapped players—seam bowlers Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka. Bosch, the son of former cricketer Tertius Bosch, earns his first call-up after taking 1 for 21 in five overs for the South African Invitation XI against the England Lions.

Maphaka, who was previously part of the squad for the Sri Lanka series as cover for injured Gerald Coetzee, is also named for the current ODI series against Pakistan.

The squad for the series includes seven players from the current ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, and Kagiso Rabada.

Rabada and Jansen, having played in the first ODI, are expected to take on limited roles in the Test series as South Africa manages their bowling workload. Several key bowlers, including Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, and Lizaad Williams, are unavailable due to injury and are expected to return next year.

The series against Pakistan is pivotal for South Africa, as they require one more victory to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final. The Test matches will take place at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Boxing Day, followed by the New Year’s Test at Newlands in Cape Town.

South Africa Squad for Test Series Against Pakistan:
Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk).

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