Pakistan vs South Africa | 1st Test | Lahore | October 12-16 | Pre-Match Discussion

[Aqib_mustafa]

Anything in media about the pitch for the 1st Test ?

Pure rank turner

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan vs South Africa Test Series

The Pakistan team held a training session at Gaddafi Stadium ahead of the upcoming Test series.

The national squad participated in a rigorous three-hour practice session, during which coaches conducted various drills.

Following the warm-up, players engaged in intensive batting, bowling, and fielding exercises.

The first Test match between South Africa and Pakistan will be played at Gaddafi Stadium starting on October 12.

View attachment WhatsApp Video 2025-10-09 at 14.43.01_131c0158.mp4

 

[Human786]

Pure rank turner

your perception or reports in media ?

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

your perception or reports in media ?

There are reports in media pakistan will play 3 spinners sajid nomam and abrar or asif afridi so pitch will be be pure rank turner.

 

[sweep_shot]

I think whoever bat first are likely to win.

I am guessing there would be turning pitches. So, batting in 4th innings should be difficult.

 

[adi_62941]

There are reports in media pakistan will play 3 spinners sajid nomam and abrar or asif afridi so pitch will be be pure rank turner

Really cant understand the role of 3rd specialist spinner if you already have salman agha as part time spinner.
Prepare rank turners but why not play 2 fast bowlers so that they get proper test matches and can be utilized well in non-asian spin conditions. Now if you play on non-spin pitches, you dont have a good second fast bowler

 

[adi_62941]

Now we have a perfect captains in ODI,Tests and T20s.
Shan, Rizwan and Salman, they dont deserve to be in the side alone on performances.
Shan aka aggressive opener, Rizwan aka specialist number 4, and Salman Agha the intent king

 

[Obaidd]

Really cant understand the role of 3rd specialist spinner if you already have salman agha as part time spinner.
Prepare rank turners but why not play 2 fast bowlers so that they get proper test matches and can be utilized well in non-asian spin conditions. Now if you play on non-spin pitches, you dont have a good second fast bowler

Sajid and Noman do 80% or more of the bowling on these spin tracks. We have gone with three spinners before but barely used the third option.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Sajid and Noman do 80% or more of the bowling on these spin tracks. We have gone with three spinners before but barely used the third option.

What's your take on pitches is it going to rank turners or gradully spinning in day 3?

 

[Obaidd]

What's your take on pitches is it going to rank turners or gradully spinning in day 3?

Ideally the latter option to see a good contest, giving pak home advantage but not making a mockery out of it.

I think PCB will go for rank turners again.
That’s what you’d like to see too right?

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Ideally the latter option to see a good contest, giving pak home advantage but not making a mockery out of it.

I think PCB will go for rank turners again.
That’s what you’d like to see too right?

Ya bro i would love to see that rank turner i know it's going to be bat first win the match type of pitch but i think pakistan has to take that risk.

 

[TeymurBlake]

This may be a unpopular opinion but I wouldn’t have selected Abdullah Shafique or Babar Azam.

They clearly still carry weaknesses with the batting approach.

I agree that Sahibzada Farhan could have been tried or even retaining Saim Ayub.

Last time Pakistan played South Africa in Pakistan, Shaheen & Hasan Ali bowled well especially with the new ball & spinners used the old ball well. Hopefully the pitches bring more balance between pacers & spinners for Pakistan.

I like would have ideally gone with

1. Saim Ayub
2. Shan Masood (C)
3. Kamran Ghulam
4. Saud Shakeel
5. Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
6. Agha Ali Salman
7. Aamer Jamal
8. Nauman Ali
9. Sajid Khan
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi
11. Khurram Shehzad/Hasan Ali

The XI gives you good balance of spin & pace but does expose you batting somewhat & will need at least two of the top order to do the heavy lifting with the bat.

But Pakistan have really struggled in the past couple of years to take 20 wickets in test cricket, it is time to correct it.

 

[Human786]

There are reports in media pakistan will play 3 spinners sajid nomam and abrar or asif afridi so pitch will be be pure rank turner.

Ideal is to stop watering the pitch for 30 hours before start , that way you get a real dry pitch by 6th or 7th session - raking up the surface with wire brushes before game commences is a bit too jihadi imo .