Sports

Uncapped pacer, all-rounder added to South Africa squad for Pakistan Tests

Pacer Maphaka and all-rounder Bosch make it to 16-member Proteas squad for Tests starting from Dec 26

By Reuters
December 18, 2024
Picture taken during the 2nd Test between South Africa and Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium shows Temba Bavuma playing a shot as home sides fielders look on, on February 8, 2021. — AFP
Picture taken during the 2nd Test between South Africa and Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium shows Temba Bavuma playing a shot as home side's fielders look on, on February 8, 2021. — AFP

South Africa's cricket team has called uncapped pacer Kwena Maphaka and all-rounder Corbin Bosch for the important two-Test home series against Pakistan starting from December 26 in Pretoria. 

The side has decided to provide time to Wiaan Mulder to prove his fitness. 

Proteas' coach Shukri Conrad named a 16-player squad for the Tests against Pakistan including the yet-to-debut 18-year-old fast bowler Kwena Maphaka in the squad. 

"We have added Corbin to the mix. His all-round ability with both bat and ball adds depth and his pace brings an extra bite to our attack, so we’re excited to see him make that step up to test cricket," Conrad said.

Corbin, 30, is the son of former seamer Tertius Bosch, who played in South Africa's first Test against the West Indies in 1992.

That was his only cap before he died from Guillain–Barre syndrome aged 33 in 2000.

All-rounder Mulder had also missed the second Test win over Sri Lanka earlier this month with a fractured middle finger, having been a key part of the South African side hoping to seal a place in the ICC’s World Test Championship final with a win over Pakistan.

Spinner Keshav Maharaj has also been selected despite pulling out of the first one-day international against Pakistan on Tuesday with an acute groin strain.

Senuran Muthusamy is the only other specialist spinner in the squad for the Centurion Park test on a wicket that is likely to favour the seamers.

"We are keeping a close eye on Kesh (Maharaj) and hope his injury is not too serious," Conrad said.

South Africa, currently at the top of the points table, need victory in one of the two matches in the series to book a place at the Lord’s final in June next year, with the second fixture starting in Cape Town on January 3.

South Africa squad

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 and Kyle Verreynne.