Should Pakistan Prepare Turning Tracks for the South Africa Tests? Right Strategy or Risky Move? 🤔

[Mohammad Aizaz]

With the South Africa Test series approaching, there’s a big debate brewing — should Pakistan prepare spin-friendly pitches at home?

On paper, it makes sense. Pakistan’s recent home success has often come on turning tracks where spinners like Abrar Ahmed, Nauman Ali, and Salman Ali Agha have done the damage. South Africa traditionally struggles against quality spin, especially in the subcontinent.

But there’s a twist — or should we say turn — to this story.

Keshav Maharaj has become one of the most consistent left-arm spinners in world cricket. If Pakistan prepares dry, dusty wickets, Maharaj could easily come into play, and South Africa might even consider adding another spinner like Simon Harmer. Add in the fact that Pakistan’s own batters haven’t exactly looked comfortable against left-arm spin lately, and this could backfire badly.

So what’s the right call?

Should Pakistan back their spinners and prepare turning tracks to exploit South Africa’s weakness — or go for balanced pitches that reduce the Maharaj threat and test both sides evenly?

Would love to hear everyone’s take:

• Should Pakistan go spin-heavy at home?
• Can Abrar and Nauman outbowl Maharaj and Harmer?
• Or is a true sporting pitch the smarter long-term strategy?

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

With the South Africa Test series approaching, there’s a big debate brewing — should Pakistan prepare spin-friendly pitches at home?

On paper, it makes sense. Pakistan’s recent home success has often come on turning tracks where spinners like Abrar Ahmed, Nauman Ali, and Salman Ali Agha have done the damage. South Africa traditionally struggles against quality spin, especially in the subcontinent.

But there’s a twist — or should we say turn — to this story.

Keshav Maharaj has become one of the most consistent left-arm spinners in world cricket. If Pakistan prepares dry, dusty wickets, Maharaj could easily come into play, and South Africa might even consider adding another spinner like Simon Harmer. Add in the fact that Pakistan’s own batters haven’t exactly looked comfortable against left-arm spin lately, and this could backfire badly.

So what’s the right call?

Should Pakistan back their spinners and prepare turning tracks to exploit South Africa’s weakness — or go for balanced pitches that reduce the Maharaj threat and test both sides evenly?

Would love to hear everyone’s take:

• Should Pakistan go spin-heavy at home?
• Can Abrar and Nauman outbowl Maharaj and Harmer?
• Or is a true sporting pitch the smarter long-term strategy?

Of course pakistan should go for turning tracks that the best way to beat these sena teams pakistan beat team like england who wanted to go all gun blazing vs pakistan spinners pakistan got the better of then no reason of pakistan not doing the same vs south africa pakistan has have better spinners than sa likes of noman and sajid are better than south African spinners and with kamran and saud pakistan can counter south african spinners really well.

 

[bunda_bindaas]

Go for spin. Get WTC points. No brainer, really.

 

[ElRaja]

maharaj gonna clean pak up if it spins too much, you need spinning pitches, but not too overbaked.

 

[sweep_shot]

Yes. I think they should prepare turning tracks. It worked against England and should work against South Africa also.

 

[tiger_khan]

England did not have quality spinners.

SA as a team does have a few good spinners.

The problem is Pak batsmen. If we have turning tracks, apart from Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel, no one plays spin well. Salman ?Agha did but I don't know about his state of mind these days.

Regardless, Pakistan should go for a turning track. We presently, don't have fast bowlers who can bowl a Test team out twice.

 

[Nasty Naz]

maharaj gonna clean pak up if it spins too much, you need spinning pitches, but not too overbaked.

Agreed. They need to find the right balance in their spinning pitches but the problem is Pakistan don't even build spinning pitches in domestic so I am not sure they know what that balance is.

 

[BouncerGuy]

The problem is Sajid and Noman, especially Noman is old and might be there to feed on those spin tracks for a long time.. Do we have spinners in the domestic circuit to carry on with this approach?

But our pace department is even funnier...I think Khurram is a good bowler, he is accurate and he found some success as well since he started but do we have pacers to try pacey tracks? I guess no

Better to stick with spin tracks for home series and get all the points you can

 

[zahid01]

It will be a lottery who ever wins toss and bats should win doctoring pitches is a short term gain no future in it need sporting wickets

 

[mominsaigol]

They will prepare one anyway? So what's the point of the thread?

 

[Mohammad Aizaz]

Of course pakistan should go for turning tracks that the best way to beat these sena teams pakistan beat team like england who wanted to go all gun blazing vs pakistan spinners pakistan got the better of then no reason of pakistan not doing the same vs south africa pakistan has have better spinners than sa likes of noman and sajid are better than south African spinners and with kamran and saud pakistan can counter south african spinners really well.

I feel the Saffas are more equipped against good spin in red-ball cricket compared to the Englishmen. They have Keshav to bowl to them in the nets. Last time when we beat them at home 2-0, our pacers as well as spinners took five-fors.

 

[Barragan]

This shouldn't even be a question!

What else are you going to do?

Prepare flat tracks? Lost on them against everyone!

Prepare green pitches? Lost against BD!

Prepare bouncy tracks? Good luck.....

Only spin pitches have been successful and yet we still see this braindead debate!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Bouncer mar mar ke out karo

Nobody wants to see these spin mambas where semi retired bowlers are ripping it from day one

 

[Omer2002]

Pakistan cant play spin nor Pace thus they make phatta wickets which you score 400 runs but even that we havent made. I think with maharaj out have to make spinning wickets we need to win our home matches as no chance of away ones

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

I would say go spin heavy attack that's the best way to beat south africa don't provide them pace to work with make proper turner where ball spin big and no need of any pacers coming that will be easy runs south africa won't mind pace on the ball.