Pakistan to Field 7 Batsmen in the First Test, Sources Confirm
Centurion:
Pakistan is preparing for the first Test against South Africa with a potential inclusion of Babar Azam in the playing XI after several months. The team management and selection committee have devised a strategy to field seven batsmen for the upcoming match, which is set to begin on Thursday at SuperSport Park, Centurion.
According to sources, Pakistan’s innings will start with in-form batter, Saeem Ayub, alongside captain Shan Masood. Babar Azam, who was dropped after a below-par performance in the first Test against England in Multan in October (scoring 30 and 5 runs), is expected to replace out-of-form Abdullah Shafique.
Reports suggest Babar Azam will bat at number three, with Kamran Ghulam at number four, deputy captain Saud Shakeel at number five, and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, the captain of the ODI and T20I teams, at number six. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha will take the seventh spot in the batting order.
The second Test between Pakistan and South Africa will be played in Cape Town on January 3.
