Published: Oct 14, 2013, 11:05 AM (IST)
Edited: Oct 14, 2013, 11:05 AM (IST)
Pakistan will aim to put behind the disappointing tour to Zimbabwe © AFP
Oct 14, 2013
Pakistan clash with the top-ranked Test side South Africa in the first Test match starting on Monday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
South Africa will be eager to get back on the field after a long break, while Pakistan will aim to put behind their disappointing tour of Zimbabwe and put up a good fight.
South Africa veteran Jacques Kallis said he felt refreshed after a three-month break from cricket and was raring to go in the first Test. Kallis returned to domestic matches after his break, played the last of his 162 Tests against Pakistan in February this year. He has not featured in a limited over international since early 2012.
On the other hand, Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has pledged to regain the title of world’s best Test bowler by punishing South Africa in the two-Test series.
“I will try my best and want to be the number one Test bowler,” said Ajmal, who wrecked the then top Test team England with 24 wickets at the same venue last year but has a decidedly less glorious track record against South Africa — now the world’s best team.
Teams:
Pakistan: Shan Masood, Khurram Manzoor, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan
South Africa: Graeme Smith (c), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (wk), Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel
(With inputs from AFP)
Pakistan vs South Africa — Live on Ten Cricket
