Temba Bavuma, who led South Africa to their maiden World Test Championship title earlier this year, will miss the Test series in Pakistan.
South Africa will start their defence of the World Test Championship with a two-Test series in Pakistan. The matches will be played at Lahore from October 12, and at Rawalpindi from October 20.
Temba Bavuma to miss Pakistan tour
For the series, they will be without captain Bavuma and, for the first Test match, ace spinner Keshav Maharaj. Bavuma has been suffering from a strained calf, while Maharaj has a groin injury. The injury will also force Bavuma to miss the ODI leg of the tour. Aiden Markram will lead South Africa in the Test series.
Spin has played a significant factor in the recent Tests in Pakistan. South Africa have recalled off-spinner Simon Harmer, who has not played a Test since March 2023. From 10 Tests, Harmer has 39 wickets at 27.56, and comes with vast experience in domestic cricket in South Africa and England. He is only 17 scalps away from the 1,000-wicket mark in first-class cricket.
In Maharaj’s temporary absence, Harmer will be supported by left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy (five Tests, 11 wickets at 34.63) and off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen (one Test, four wickets at 19.50).
They will be supplemented by a very strong pace attack, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and including Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch. Other than Bavuma, South Africa will have a full-strength batting line-up at their disposal, boasting of Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi, David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton, and Dewald Brevis.
Zubayr Hamza earned a recall as well. Hamza has played eight Tests, but – barring the New Zealand tour of early 2024 with a second-string side – he has not played Test cricket since February 2022.
South Africa squad for Test series in Pakistan
Aiden Markram (c), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne. Second Test only: Keshav Maharaj.
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