The Green Shirts and The Proteas are scheduled to face off in the opening test of their two-match series beginning October 12, at the distinguished Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Team Assessment: The Green Shirts appear robust on familiar ground, The Proteas encounter difficulty
The Green Shirts enter the match with confidence following victories in both tests at home against The Proteas in 2021 and recent impressive showings in familiar conditions. Shan Masood, who is captain, brings tactical insight and stability at the top with Imam-ul-Haq. The batting middle order, supported by captain Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, forms a strong arrangement able to compile runs steadily or accelerate when necessary.
The bowling team blends pace and spin effectively. Shaheen Afridi leads the charge with pace and movement, with Hasan Ali’s support. The spin division, directed by Noman Ali’s impressive past performance on home grounds, is expected to be a challenge for the guests after the pitch deteriorates.
The Proteas, led by Aiden Markram in Temba Bavuma’s absence, present a comparatively youthful group with few individuals who have experience in subcontinental conditions. Batters, such as Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, and Tristan Stubbs, will try to demonstrate their abilities in unfamiliar territory. Their spin alternatives – Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, and Prenelan Subrayen – are expected to work diligently to produce breakthroughs against a Pakistani batting arrangement skilled at handling spin.
Kagiso Rabada is still The Proteas’ primary fast bowler, however, the team’s overall strength depends on swiftly adjusting to conditions to assist their inexperienced team.
Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Analysis
The surface at Gaddafi Stadium is well known for its balanced attributes, often favoring the batters in the beginning, but gradually assisting spinners as the match continues. The surface should be solid and appropriate for batting on the first day, providing ample bounce and speed for the fast bowlers, particularly in the opening stages. But, as the five days proceed, the surface generally begins to deteriorate, bringing the spinners into the game.
The Green Shirts’ strong spin trio – Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Abrar Ahmed – will enjoy the conditions on days three to five, making their involvement critical to the result of the game. The seamers, including the dynamic Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali, are able to utilize the morning dampness and reverse swing later in the innings. The normal first innings score at this location is competitive, and teams that win the toss frequently choose to bat first to establish a challenging total.
Weather conditions for the test are expected to be warm and dry over the course of the five days, with little rain predicted, assuring uninterrupted play and a genuine contest of skills.
Gaddafi Stadium Test Statistics and Records
- Total matches: 32
- Matches won batting first: 20
- Matches won bowling first: 12
- Average 1st innings scores: 166
- Average 2nd innings scores: 148
- Highest total recorded: 209/3 (20 Ov) by England vs Pakistan
- Lowest total recorded: 94/10 (15.3 Ov) by New Zealand vs Pakistan
- Highest score chased: 197/3 (17.2 Ov) by Pakistan vs Bangladesh
- Lowest score defended: 126/7 (20 Ov) by Pakistan Women vs Bangladesh Women
