Pakistan Win Toss, Chose to Bat First Against South Africa in Second Test

Rawalpindi: Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and chose to bat first against South Africa in the second Test match of the two-match series. Pakistan lead the series 1-0 after winning the opening Test.

Speaking at the toss, Shan Masood confirmed one change in the playing XI, announcing that Asif Afridi has been included in the team in place of Hasan Ali, who has been dropped for this match.

On the other hand, South African skipper Aiden Markram said that he would have also chosen to bat first if he had won the toss. He revealed that South Africa have made two changes to their lineup, with Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen coming into the side.

Read More : Pakistan Defeats South Africa by 93 Runs 

Markram expressed confidence about making a strong comeback in the series, saying, “We have a clear plan to level the series. The Rawalpindi pitch looks similar to Lahore’s and could be challenging, but we’re ready for the conditions.”

He further added that his team has discussed strategies to handle Pakistan’s spin duo Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan, who proved dangerous in the previous match. “We’ve worked out a plan to counter their spin threat, and I’m hopeful the fans will witness exciting cricket,” said the South African captain.

Read More : Pakistan Announces Squad for Test Series Against South Africa

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the national squad for the upcoming Test series against South Africa, with three new players earning a call-up.

Shan Masood will lead the team in the two-match series, while Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram, and Rohail Nazir have been named as the new inclusions.

The first Test will be played from October 12 to 16, 2025, at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, while the second Test is scheduled for October 20 to 24 in Rawalpindi. The national training camp will run in Lahore from September 30 to October 8.