Pakistan Playing 11 vs South Africa - 1st Test, Pakistan Tour of South Africa 2024-25

Following the historic 3-0 win in the ODI series, Pakistan will be eyeing a similar performance in the first Test of the two-match series against South Africa. The first Test will be played on Thursday (December 26) at the SuperSport Park, Centurion.

Pakistan will have their confidence sky-high following the historic 3-0 win in the ODI series. The tour did not start on a good note for Pakistan, as they lost the T20I series 2-0. However, they put in a stunning performance to clinch the ODI series by winning all three games.

The Mohammad Rizwan-led side started the ODI series with a 3-wicket win. In the second game, the visitors registered an 81-run victory to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

In the third ODI, Pakistan beat South Africa 36 runs (DLS method) to complete the whitewash. Ahead of the first Test, we are looking at the Pakistan Playing 11.

Pakistan Playing 11 vs South Africa - 1st Test, Pakistan Tour of South Africa 2024-25

Openers: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique

Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique are set to be the openers in the Playing 11. Both the openers had very contrasting outings in the recently concluded ODI series.

While Ayub finished the series against the Proteas as the highest run-scorer, Shafique could not even open his account in three games.

Ayub scored two centuries and finished the series with 235 runs. He was also the only batter to score a century in the series. With form on his side, he will be eyeing a good outing in the Test series as well.

Shafique, on the other hand, was dismissed for a duck in all three games. The spotlight is firmly on the under-pressure captain and he will be looking to hit the ground running in Tests.

Middle-order batsmen and allrounders: Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Aamer Jamal

Captain Shan Masood will be leading the charge with the bat in the middle-order. It will be his first international game since the third Test against England in October this year. After guiding the visitors to a series win over England, Masood will be eyeing more success against South Africa.

Babar Azam has not scored a Test century since 2022 and will be desperate to end the drought in the series. He has also looked in good form in recent times. The former captain scored fifties in the last two ODIs against South Africa.

Just like Babar, Mohammad Rizwan looked in good touch as well, scoring fifties in the last two ODIs.

He will be looking to make the most of the form in the Test series. The other players in the middle and lower-order will be the likes of Agha Salman, Aamer Jamal, and Saud Shakeel.

Salman impressed against South Africa in the ODIs while Jamal and Shakeel last played for the visitors during the home series against England.

Bowlers: Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali

The visitors are likely to play the Test with two frontline pacers and one spinner. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Abbas will be the lead pacers in the Pakistan Playing 11.

Noman Ali, who picked up 20 wickets in 2 Tests against England a couple of months ago, is set to lead the spin department. The likes of Salman and Jamal are also handy bowling options.