Pakistan head into their first Test series since January with the daunting challenge of going up against the current champions of the red-ball cricket in South Africa.
The first Test begins at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday with most of the Pakistan squad desperately short of first-class cricket practice in a format where recent successes have been few and far between.
Since taking over as Test captain Babar Azam in December 2023, Shan Masood has led the team to just three victories in 12 matches with all of those wins coming on home soil.
Such was their woeful form, Pakistan finished bottom of the pile in the last World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, with South Africa top after securing eight wins in 12 matches. The Proteas defeated Australia by five wickets in the final at Lord's in June.
Pakistan head into the match after a chastening and controversial Asia Cup that saw them lose three times to India – including by five wickets in the final at Dubai International Stadium – where relations with their fierce rivals was at its bitter worst.
After that T20 tournament, Pakistan now they turn their attentions to cricket's longest form and taking on the might of South Africa.
And they could well head into battle without key spinner Sajid Khan, who is recovering from a viral infection, with a final call on whether he can play being left as late as possible.
Pakistan could give a Test debut to 38-year-old left-arm spinner Asif Afridi, who took 33 wickets across five matches in a recent domestic tournament.
“Sajid, if he is OK, is the first name you will put down on the team sheet for a Test as he has been an integral part of our home Test campaigns, but obviously we have to ensure he is 100 per cent ready for the rigours of a five-day match,” Masood said.
And Masood says his team most make the most of home advantage heading into the next WTC cycle that ends with the final – again being held at Lord's, in June 2027.
“It's a good opportunity to play with the team that won the WTC last year,” said Masood. “It's a measuring stick that we are starting our campaign against them.
“The format of the WTC is such that you have to take advantage of home matches and win them, and that is why we have, in recent matches, opted for spin pitches as we need to take 20 wickets to win a match. But even then, you have to also win at least one series overseas to play in the final.”
Pakistan employed industrial fans and patio heaters to prepare dry-square turners against England a year ago. It worked as the hosts won 2-1, with left-armer Noman Ali taking 20 wickets and off-spinner Sajid 19 in two Tests.
Despite not using similar means this time the Gaddafi Stadium pitch is likely to assist spinners in the first Test and South Africa can expect the same kind of conditions for the second Test in Rawalpindi.
Masood defended Pakistan's reliance on spinning tracks. “The prime objective is to win a home series and if we do that by taking advantage of the home conditions then it is the right way,” he said.
“If we win a home series it will give us confidence for away tours like England next year.”
South Africa are being led by Aiden Markram with regular captain Temba Bavuma, who led the side to the WTC title, missing the tour with a calf injury.
And Markram is fully prepared for a trial by spin in Lahore. “We expect the tracks to spin of course, we saw how things turned out in the England series and that's obviously Pakistan's way of trying to win, and that's completely fair,” said Markram on Saturday.
“As a team that has not been exposed to those conditions it's exciting and a great opportunity for us to get things right in these conditions with a tour to India next.”
Markram admitted that being without Bavuma and front-line spinner Keshav Maharaj – only available for the second Test because of a groin injury – will make life trickier for his team.
“We're gonna miss Temba a lot as a leader,” said Markram. “In the same way Keshav, who has been incredible even when the ball doesn't spin.
“But it's an opportunity for the new spinners of ours to put their hands up,” added Markram of the trio of Simon Harmer, Senuran Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen.
