PAK vs SA: South Africa Announce Squad for Test Series, Two Uncapped Seamers Earn Call-up

PA Kvs SA: South Africa has revealed its squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Pakistan, set to be played during the festive season. The series will begin with the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion, followed by the New Year’s Test at Newlands in Cape Town.

The Proteas have taken calculated risks on the fitness of key players Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder. Maharaj, who suffered a groin strain during warm-ups for the first ODI against Pakistan, awaits the results of a scan to determine his availability.

PAK vs SA South Africa Test Squad — Temba Bavuma to lead South Africa (Photo: AP/PTI)

PAK vs SA: South Africa Squad for Test Series

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)

Meanwhile, Mulder, recovering from a fractured finger sustained last month, could make the cut for the Boxing Day Test if fully fit. If Mulder is cleared, top-order batter Matthew Breetzke may exit the squad to accommodate him.

Two uncapped seamers, Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka, have also been called up. Bosch earned his spot following an impressive performance against the England Lions, while Maphaka, a standby player during the Sri Lanka series, now has a chance to make his debut.

South Africa’s squad retains seven players from the ongoing ODI series, including captain Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada. However, Rabada and Jansen are expected to have limited participation in the Tests due to workload management. The Proteas’ bowling unit remains under pressure with several frontline bowlers—Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, and Lizaad Williams—sidelined by injuries.

The series holds significant importance for South Africa, as a single victory will secure their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The team aims to leverage its depth and experience to achieve this milestone despite the challenges posed by injuries and fitness concerns.