Babar Azam Returns As Pakistan Announce Enjoying XI For Boxing Day Check Towards South Africa
Former skipper Babar Azam has returned to the squad because the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) introduced the taking part in XI for the Boxing Day Check towards South Africa, set to be performed at SuperSport Park in Centurion from Thursday.
Babar final featured for Pakistan within the first Check towards England in October. Since then, the right-handed batter was not chosen within the taking part in XI for the remaining two matches of the sequence.
The 30-year-old, who has scored simply 366 runs in 18 innings, has not registered a fifty since his 161-run knock towards New Zealand in December 2022. He replaces right-handed opener Abdullah Shafique, who lately recorded three consecutive geese within the ODI sequence towards South Africa.
Left-handed batter Shan Masood will proceed to steer the aspect, whereas white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan will function the wicketkeeper. The PCB has additionally included Saim Ayub, the participant of the event from the ODI sequence.
Pakistan has opted for a bowling assault comprising 4 seamers–Naseem Shah, Muhammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, and Aamer Jamal–and one spin all-rounder, Salman Ali Agha. Left-handed batter Saud Shakeel and right-handed batter Kamran Ghulam have additionally secured spots within the squad.
Earlier on Tuesday, hosts South Africa introduced their taking part in XI for the Centurion Check, with bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch set to make his debut.
Enjoying XIs:
Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Muhammad Abbas.
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch.
