Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Wednesday announced the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan.
The team has taken a calculated risk by naming Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder in the squad, both of whom are dealing with fitness issues.
Maharaj suffered a groin strain during the warm-ups for South Africa’s opening ODI against Pakistan on Tuesday.
Although he was initially ruled out of the first ODI, Maharaj has been included in the Test squad for the series against Pakistan, pending the results of a scan scheduled for later today.
Wiaan Mulder, who is also recovering from a broken right middle finger sustained during a recent series against Sri Lanka in Durban, has also been included.
Mulder is expected to be fit for the Boxing Day Test and is set to feature in the squad for the upcoming fixtures against Pakistan.
Alongside Maharaj and Mulder, CSA has also included two uncapped players, Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka.
Maphaka was initially called up as a replacement for Gerald Coetzee during the Sri Lanka series and is currently part of the ODI squad against Pakistan.
Bosch, an all-rounder, joins the Test squad as an additional option.
The series against Pakistan holds significant importance for South Africa, as they need just one more victory to secure a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
On the other hand, Pakistan, who currently sit in seventh place, need to win both matches to improve their chances of making it to the WTC final.
The national team will carry forward their winning momentum, having recently won the three-match home Test series against England 2-1.
South Africa squad for Tests against Pakistan:
Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk)
