RAWALPINDI (Pakistan): Pakistan, whose lone series win over South Africa was at home in 2003, will look for their second series win when the second Test starts here on Thursday.
The hosts had won the first Test by seven wickets in Karachi.
This time they will be hope to end a 17-year wait for a series win against South Africa and leapfrog the Proteas in the Test rankings.
They stand to rise two places to fifth in the rankings with a series victory, while defeat would push South Africa down from fifth to sixth.
Babar Azam, who captained Pakistan for the first time, said the win is important after their defeats in both Tests to New Zealand in December and January.
“This win was very necessary for our group,” said Azam. “The last series in New Zealand didn’t go very well. Yes, these are home conditions but South Africa is a top Test side and beating them was morale-boosting.”
Debutant Nauman Ali and fellow spinner Yasir Shah were the heroes in Karachi with seven wickets each, along with Fawad Alam whose first-innings century set up the win.
“We have been telling the players to be confident. I don’t want them to take pressure, learn from mistakes and do your best,” added Azam.
South Africa have long struggled in the subcontinent, with Karachi their eighth defeat in a row in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Teams (from): Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abid Ali, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Yasir Shah, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tabish Khan
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (captain), Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Anrich Nortje, Wiaan Mulder, Lutho Sipamla, Beuran Hendricks, Kyle Verreynne, Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde, Daryn Dupavillon, Marco Jansen
