Scorer: Ranjith P | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
| PLAYER | ROLE |
|---|---|
| Temba Bavuma | Middle-order batter |
| David Bedingham | Middle-order batter |
| Corbin Bosch | Allrounder |
| Matthew Breetzke | Batter |
| Tony de Zorzi | Top-order batter |
| Marco Jansen | Bowling allrounder |
| Keshav Maharaj | Bowler |
| Kwena Maphaka | Bowler |
| Aiden Markram | Opening batter |
| Wiaan Mulder | Allrounder |
| Senuran Muthusamy | Batting allrounder |
| Dane Paterson | Bowler |
| Kagiso Rabada | Bowler |
| Ryan Rickelton † | Wicketkeeper batter |
| Tristan Stubbs | Batter |
| Kyle Verreynne † | Wicketkeeper batter |
| LAST FIVE MATCHES | DATE | SERIES/TOURNAMENT | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SASA |  | 201 & 274 | lost to | 272 & 298 |  | PAKPAK | 04/02/21 | South Africa tour of Pakistan 2020/21 |
| SASA | | 220 & 245 | lost to | 378 & 90/3 | | PAKPAK | 26/01/21 | South Africa tour of Pakistan 2020/21 |
| SASA | | 262 & 303 | beat | 185 & 273 | | PAKPAK | 11/01/19 | Pakistan tour of South Africa 2018/19 |
| SASA | | 431 & 43/1 | beat | 177 & 294 | | PAKPAK | 03/01/19 | Pakistan tour of South Africa 2018/19 |
| SASA | | 223 & 151/4 | beat | 181 & 190 | | PAKPAK | 26/12/18 | Pakistan tour of South Africa 2018/19 |
No one fully knows why he's not played Tests since 2021, but he has kept taking the wickets, be it in Taunton, Gujranwala or Swabi
Kamran Ghulam keeps his place at No. 4 with Babar set to bat at No. 3 and Masood to open
Corbin Bosch is set to make his Test debut on what promises to be a seamer-friendly Centurion pitch
If South Africa had been playing a spinner, the decision may have been a lot simpler for Pakistan, who were stung going in all pace at home against Bangladesh
Fifteen Tests, two wins, 12 defeats, and no joy since 2007. Mickey Arthur and Mushtaq Ahmed ponder the whys and what nexts
9:10am Pakistan's Test tours to South Africa have often been traumatic, and they have won only twice in the country. But what can they learn from those experiences? This piece by Danyal Rasool, where he speaks to former Pakistan and South Africa head coach Mickey Arthur, and Pakistan legend Mushtaq Ahmed, should have the answers.
Imran: "Great boxing day today for me first Ind vs Aus treat to watch now lets move on to Pak vs SA another cracker on boxing day i hope my first comment will published"
9am The final step, at times, is the toughest. South Africa, as a cricketing nation, know that well. Probably too well, and more often than they would have liked or ever wanted. But they can alleviate some of that pain. With the finish line in sight, yet again.
Years of heartbreak, of feeling what might have been and what ifs, to now, what is. An opportunity to contest the game that matters in the World Test Championship (WTC) and by extension, a chance to be the champions of the world. Which a country of their cricketing excellence warrants, demands and perhaps most pertinently, deserves.
Pakistan carry a different but similarly substantial burden. Of not being able to challenge South Africa enough on these shores in Test cricket. The WTC bus has seemingly passed them by too. But Pakistan regularly stray from the usual and conventional course, find themselves in chaos having meandered towards it, and then revel in its eccentricity.
And, akin to successes from yore, they have something to fight against. A record to set straight, a notion to disprove, an us-against-expectations battle and, pressingly, the appeal of transforming an escapade that has otherwise only been synonymous with nightmares, into something much more euphoric and dreamier.
Hello and a Merry Christmas to everyone tuning in. This is the first of two Tests that could have major ramifications on the WTC, played between two sides that have narratives to alter, paradigms to shift and uncharted territory to explore. So, buckle up as Rvel Zahid and I, Shashwat Kumar, bring all the action to you from day one!