The South Africa vs Pakistan 1st Test will begin on December 26 at SuperSport Park, Centurion. South Africa enters the match with a recent Test series win at home, while Pakistan aims to continue their victorious run in Test cricket. The playing XI for both teams has been confirmed, and the match will be broadcast live, with the toss scheduled for 1:00 PM IST and the match starting at 1:30 PM IST.
The highly anticipated Test series between South Africa and Pakistan is set to commence on Thursday, December 26, at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Following a disappointing ODI series where Pakistan swept the Proteas, South Africa aims to regroup. They have found recent success in Test cricket, achieving a 2-0 series victory against Sri Lanka, which placed them at the forefront of the ICC World Test Championship rankings ahead of notable teams such as Australia and India.
On the other hand, Pakistan arrives in South Africa brimming with confidence after demonstrating prowess in limited-overs cricket. The team is looking to maintain this momentum in the upcoming Test matches. Their most recent Test series against England concluded with Pakistan securing their first Test series win in three years, guided by the leadership of Shan Masood. Therefore, this contest promises to be an exciting battle between two determined teams.
The following are the confirmed playing XI for the 1st Test:
South Africa Playing XI: Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (Captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch.
Probable Pakistan Playing XI: Shan Masood (Captain), Saud Shakeel (Vice-Captain), Salman Ali Agha, Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Khurram Shahzad.
Historically, South Africa has dominated the Test format against Pakistan, winning 15 out of 28 encounters, with Pakistan claiming victory in only six instances. The head-to-head record reflects South Africa’s strength in red-ball cricket.
As for the logistics surrounding the match, the live toss will be held at 1:00 PM IST, followed by the match commencement at 1:30 PM IST. In India, the match will be broadcast live on the Sports 18 network, while streaming will be available on the JioCinema platform and its corresponding website.
The Test series between South Africa and Pakistan is significant, particularly after the contrasting performances in the limited-overs format. South Africa, fresh off a successful campaign at home against Sri Lanka, hopes to regain momentum against an upbeat Pakistan team. Both teams are entering this series with strong ambitions, making the matchups particularly compelling. The format also allows teams to showcase their skills in a different context compared to the faster-paced ODI matches.
In summary, the 1st Test between South Africa and Pakistan is poised to be an exhilarating series opener, occurring on December 26. With both teams displaying confidence and recent successes in their respective formats, the encounter at SuperSport Park in Centurion will attract significant attention from cricket fans worldwide. South Africa is expected to leverage their historical advantage, while Pakistan aims to capitalize on their momentum from limited-overs formats. The outlined logistics ensure that fans can follow the match closely through live broadcasts and streaming options.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
