Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Wednesday announced the line-up for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan.
The team took a calculated risk by naming Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder in the team, both with fitness problems.
Maharaj suffered a groin strain while warming up for South Africa’s ODI opener against Pakistan on Tuesday.
Although he was initially ruled out of the first ODI, Maharaj was included in the Test squad for the series against Pakistan pending the results of a check scheduled for today.
Wiaan Mulder, who is also recovering from a fractured right middle finger suffered 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 expected to be part of the squad for the upcoming games against Pakistan.
Alongside Maharaj and Mulder, CSA also included two new players, Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka.
Maphaka was initially called up to replace Gerald Coetzee during the Sri Lanka series and is currently part of the ODI squad against Pakistan.
The versatile Bosch joins the test team as an additional option.
The series against Pakistan is of significant importance for South Africa, who need just one more win to secure a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
On the other hand, Pakistan, who are currently ranked seventh, need to win both matches to increase their chances of reaching the WTC final.
The national team will continue 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 (captain), 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 (week)
