Hasan Ali And Mohd. Nawaz Likely To Play The First Test Against SA

Hasan Ali and Mohd. Nawaz are likely to play the first Test against South Africa and so, here is a look at why.

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Hasan Ali and Mohd. Nawaz Likely To Make A Comeback

Both Hasan Ali and Mohd. Nawaz are likely to make their Test comebacks during Pakistan’s home series against South Africa. The duo then is expected to play the first Test match that is scheduled to begin in Karachi on the 26th of this month.

Hasan Ali is likely to play instead of young pacer Naseem Shah who was dropped from the squad while Mohd. Nawaz is likely to feature because Pakistan might play an additional spinner instead of Mohd. Abbas who too was dropped for the series in discussion. Also owing to Yasir Shah’s poor form Pakistan’s think-tank is likely to add support for the leg-spinner in the playing eleven. 

Both cricketers then can also bat decently and hence, Misbah and company wouldn’t mind a somewhat reliable tail against a formidable Proteas bowling attack.

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Who Else Is In With A Chance?

Either Imran Butt or Abdullah Shafique are likely to open the innings against South Africa in the first Test alongside Abid Ali. This seems obvious because Shan Masood had to be dropped owing to his poor form and also because the new selection committee didn’t pick Imam-ul-Haq who is still recovering from an injury.

The new chief selector i.e. Mohd. Wasim made this clear while announcing the squad and therefore, the probability of Azhar Ali opening the innings seems slim. Still, if Pakistan decide to open with Azhar and Abid, in that case Kamran Ghulam might make his debut in the opening encounter.