The first of two test matches between Pakistan and South Africa gets under way in Lahore on Sunday and we take a look at the squads, recent form and the all important betting
This is a two match series with the second contest due to start at Rawalpindi on 20th October. After that we will have 3 x T20's and 3 x ODI's.
Let's start with the test match squads.
Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza,Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne
Keshav Maharaj is expected to be available for the second test match.
Pakistan Recent Form
Pakistan's most recent test match action came in January this year and they drew 1-1 at home to West Indies, winning the first match by 127 runs and losing the second by 120 runs.
A 2 match series against the Proteas in South Africa over Xmas and New Year saw Pakistan lose both matches, by 2 wickets at Centurion and 10 wickets in Cape Town.
Pakistan were 2-1 winners at home to England in October last year, recovering from losing the first test (innings and 47 runs) with 2 comfortable wins (152 runs and 9 wickets).
South Africa Recent Form
South Africa completed 2 landslide wins over Zimbabwe in July which came on the back of their finest test match achievement, a 5 wicket win over Australia in the final of the World Test Championship at Lords.
The aforementioned home series against Pakistan either side of the new year saw the Proteas win the first match by 2 wickets and the second by 10 wickets.
In November / December South Africa won both test matches at home to Sri Lanka, coming out on top by margins of 233 runs and 109 runs. A tour of Bangladesh in October saw South Africa win both tests, the first by 7 wickets and the second by an innings and 273 runs. In August they drew the first of 2 tests in the West Indies and then won the second by 40 runs.
Recent Head to Head
Aside from South Africa's 2-0 home series win at the turn of this year the Proteas last toured Pakistan, in Jan / Feb 2021 they lost by 7 wickets in Karachi and by 95 runs in Rawalpindi
The Betting
At the time of writing Pakistan are 17/20 to win with the draw at 6/1 and South Africa can be backed at 1.55/1 with Betway
Prices subject to change
The Verdict
The Proteas have won each of their last 10 test matches and this is the start of their quest to defend the World Test Championship. It could well be tough with turning pitches expected and if that is the case Pakistan have at least 2 spinners in the shape of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan who will be a handful. Much depends on whether the deck has been prepped to turn from the start of Day 1.
Skipper Aiden Markram is the subject of a Sportingbet price boost. It would seem likely that it's going to be hard work but I'm wagering he can guts it out and top score for the visitors in the first knock.
In case it is a nightmare for batting from the outset, a nibble at “no ton” throughout the course of the match is added into my play.
Bet: Top SA 1st Innings Bat, Markram, was 7/2 now 5/1 with Sportingbet
Any Player To Score 100? no at 34/10 with Betway (across the whole match)