Despite the Corona epidemic, Pakistan cricket is in the spring. Saj Saj Rob in Karachi. After 14 years, Pakistan has visited South Africa. The first Test of the two-match series starts today at the Karachi National Stadium. Although international cricket has returned to Pakistan after a long hiatus, the big teams are still reluctant to return to the country, citing security concerns. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sees the series against South Africa as a major milestone in overcoming that obstacle.If the series ends smoothly, England and New Zealand will have no objection to tour Pakistan this year. Australia is scheduled to arrive next year. For different reasons, Pakistan captain Babar Azam is more excited than the board officials. Babur was on the field as a ball boy in South Africa's last tour of Pakistan in 2006. He is making his Test captaincy debut today against South Africa. Babar did not play in the New Zealand tour due to injury.The new captain is coming down with a new looking team. After the collapse of the New Zealand tour, the Pakistan Test team has undergone a major reshuffle. There were nine new faces in the 20-member preliminary team. Excluding the three of them, the final team of 16 members was announced last night. At least three of the six surviving newcomers could make their Test debuts today.
South Africa captain Quinton de Kock, however, is more concerned about Pakistan's unfamiliar conditions than his opponents.None of the team has played a Test in Pakistan before. De Kock has no idea how to handle the spin as he has no idea about the behavior of the wicket. Trust is the experience of coach Mark Boucher. Boucher has visited Pakistan three times in his playing career. The record is also in favor of the Proteas. South Africa have won 15 of the previous 26 Tests against Pakistan, losing just four.
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