Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and opted to bat first in the opening Test of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) series against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Sunday.
Speaking at the toss, Shan said the match marks an important challenge for his side against one of the strongest Test teams in the world.
“We’re going to bat first. We have two quality spinners who can do the job for us, and Salman Ali Agha can roll his arm over as well,” Masood said.
“If there’s some help from the surface — whether cracks or reverse swing — we’re well covered in the seam department too. It’s a huge opportunity for us to test ourselves against the World Test Champions and showcase our skills.”
Pakistan’s Playing XI
Shan Masood (C)
Abdullah Shafique
Imam-ul-Haq
Babar Azam
Salman Ali Agha
Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
Saud Shakeel
Sajid Khan
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Noman Ali
Hasan Ali
South Africa’s Playing XI
Aiden Markram (C)
Ryan Rickelton
Wiaan Mulder
Tony de Zorzi
Tristan Stubbs
Dewald Brevis
Kyle Verreynne (WK)
Senuran Muthusamy
Simon Harmer
Kagiso Rabada
Prenelan Subrayen
Shan Masood said the match will test Pakistan’s depth and adaptability at a newly refurbished venue.
“The stadium is new, we don’t know exactly how it will play out, but it’s exciting to be part of something fresh,” he said.
South Africa’s skipper Aiden Markram admitted his team will miss two key players but added that the squad remains confident.
“We’ll definitely miss them, but it’s an opportunity for others to step up and deliver,” Markram said.
Series schedule
The first Test between Pakistan and South Africa runs from October 12–16 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
The second Test will be held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from October 20–24.
This two-match series forms a crucial part of Pakistan’s preparation for the upcoming World Test Championship cycle, as both teams aim to solidify their rankings and build momentum for the next phase of the competition.
