Talking Points From The First Day Of Pakistan’s Second Test Against South Africa

Pakistan’s second Test against South Africa began in Cape Town yesterday. So, here is a look at a few talking points from the first day of the game.

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Senior Batsmen In The Middle Order Struggle Yet Again

Pakistan’s senior batsmen in the middle order i.e. Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq once again struggled to get going. Hence, they now find themselves under more pressure to retain their place in Pakistan’s Test side. The scenario presents an extremely tough challenge to Shafiq in particular, who seems to have run out of favor with the head coach and is now only one bad inning away from losing his position in the playing eleven.

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Bring In Fawad Alam For Goodness Sake!

With Haris Sohail not fit and with the entire middle order in shambles, the time is right for the selectors to look towards other options. The selection committee over the last year and a half has received a lot of criticism for not selecting Fawad Alam. Let’s just hope sanity prevails and the 33-year-old is finally allowed the comeback that he richly deserves.

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Sarfraz Fights Back

Under pressure to deliver with the bat, skipper Sarfraz came out with a nothing to lose approach and his fight back was perhaps, one of the only bright signs for Pakistan yesterday. Nevertheless, while Saifi might have done just enough to secure his place as the country’s first choice wicket-keeper batsman, for now, the threat to his captaincy is still very real!

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Writing Is On The Wall

With Mohd. Abbas and Yasir Shah not looking a 100 percent fit and with the wicket not being as difficult as the one in the previous game; Pakistan have a mountain to climb to make a comeback in this Test. Therefore, it is more than apparent that South Africa will have to play extremely poor cricket if they are to lose from here.