Pakistan set eyes on clean sweep against South Africa

RAWALPINDI: Riding high on confidence after a commanding start to the new ICC World Test Championship (2025–27) cycle, Pakistan are gearing up for the kill as they take on South Africa in the second and final Test from Monday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with interim head coach Azhar Mehmood setting his sights on nothing less than a 2-0 clean sweep.

Azhar, fresh from masterminding Pakistan’s emphatic win in Lahore, made it clear that personal ambitions mean little compared to the team’s broader goal of stamping authority early in the championship race.

“It would be a dream start if we can win the second Test against one of the top sides,” Azhar said. “I’m not thinking about my future as coach, my only concern is winning this Test and carrying forward the momentum.”

As both teams fine-tune their final plans, the spotlight turns to the Rawalpindi pitch, which is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the contest. Unlike the Gaddafi Stadium surface, which turned square from the second day onward, early signs suggest a more balanced wicket likely to assist both pace and spin.

Azhar confirmed that Pakistan will finalize their XI only after a last-minute pitch inspection. “We’ll decide the combination Monday morning,” he said. “Whether we go with three spinners or two pacers will depend entirely on the surface. We were criticized for not playing an extra spinner in Lahore, but our strategy worked, Shaheen Afridi’s reverse swing on the fourth day proved crucial.”

Should the pitch remain dry and abrasive, Pakistan may unleash a three-spin attack led by Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Asif Afridi. Otherwise, Hasan Ali is expected to keep his place alongside Shaheen in a dual-pace setup.

Bruised but unbowed, South Africa head into Rawalpindi determined to fight back. The return of experienced left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, as reported by The News earlier, has boosted the Proteas’ confidence and balance.

Captain Aiden Markram, who has urged his team to respond strongly, believes the visitors have learned from their mistakes. “We’ve had honest conversations about what went wrong,” Markram admitted. “With Keshav back, our attack looks complete. We’re expecting spin from early on, but we’re ready for it. It’s about adapting quickly and applying what we’ve learned.”

The Proteas have revisited their batting approach, spending extended sessions with Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, and Dewald Brevis on tackling spin and rotating the strike.

“We’ve slightly changed our plans,” Markram added. “Hopefully, the new approach helps us convert pressure into opportunities.” Azhar Mehmood’s message to his players was crystal clear, this is Pakistan’s moment to dominate world cricket’s top teams, and complacency is not an option.

“We’ve got a golden chance to beat the world champions and we must not let it slip,” he said passionately. “These conditions reward discipline and patience. Our batsmen must stay long and build partnerships. South Africa won’t give second chances, we have to grab every opening with both hands.”

The Rawalpindi Test promises to be a fierce tactical duel, with both sides desperate to assert dominance in the early stages of the World Test Championship. With a lively pitch, fluctuating conditions, and two teams refusing to back down, cricket fans are in for a thriller.

Whether forecast is quite friendly clear for the next five days.

Likely XIs

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (capt), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Asif Afridi/Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sajid Khan

South Africa: Aiden Markram (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada