Aaqib Javed: “Considering the pace-friendly conditions at Centurion and in Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas instead, who is an outstanding exponent of seam bowling”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Interim Pakistan red-ball head coach Aaqib Javed expects big things from fast bowler Mohammad Abbas in the two-Test series against South Africa.

Abbas is set to make his international return for the first time since August 2021.

Aaqib noted that South Africa’s pace-friendly pitches was one of the reasons why Abbas was selected for the forthcoming series.

In addition to this, the 34-year-old from Sialkot was on fire in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he took 31 wickets in five matches for Lahore Region Blues, which included two five-wicket hauls, at an average of 14.38.

“Considering the pace-friendly conditions at Centurion and in Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas instead, who is an outstanding exponent of seam bowling,” Aaqib was quoted as saying in a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) press release.

Pakistan are currently touring South Africa and began on a low as they were beaten 2-0 in the three-match T20I series.

As for the ODIs, the men in green whitewashed the Proteas 3-0.

Next up will be the two-Test series between Pakistan and South Africa, which will get underway on December 26 in Centurion.

Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)

Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)

Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha

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