TOSS: Proteas opt for three specialist spinners, Pakistan elect to bat in Lahore

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has selected a spin-heavy playing XI to face Pakistan in the first Test in Lahore, starting on Sunday.

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is the only specialist seamer named with Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch relegated to drinks duty alongside batters David Bedingham and Zubayr Hamza.

Off-spinner Simon Harmer returns to the Proteas Test lineup after a two-and-half-year absence, having last played in Conrad’s first series as Test coach against the West Indies in Johannesburg back in 2023.

Fellow off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen, who was reported for a suspect action in Australia, will also play his first international match since his bowling action was found to be legal by an independent testing centre.

Allrounder Senuran Muthusamy completes the trio of specialist spinners in the absence of Keshav Maharaj, who is only available for the second Test as he completes his rehabilitation programme after a recent injury.

Batters Dewald Brevis and Tony de Zorzi were also both given a run in the absence of injured captain Temba Bavuma.

They will both have to wait for their opportunity though after Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and elected to bat.

“Opportunity to prove our depth. You miss some players. Good chance for other players to raise their hands up. The boys looking in good space. We had a training camp in similar conditions,” said Proteas stand-in captain Aiden Markram.

Teams:

South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan