It's been 14 long years since we last played cricket on Pakistan soil.
Graeme Smith was still captain back then and a team boasting the likes of Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini and Mark Boucher beat Pakistan 1 - 0.
I for one am very happy and excited to see us touring Pakistan again. Like India, Pakistan is a cricket mad country with a very rich cricketing history. The likes of Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Inzamam - ul - Haq, Shoaib Akhtar (just to name a few) have set the cricketing world alight with their performances through the years. It has been so sad that the cricketing public has been starved of international cricket for so long. Thankfully this is changing with more teams set to visit in 2021.
Its something new for the SA players (although Boucher is still there, albeit as coach) and they will have to embrace the new conditions and culture.
The series itself should be a hotly contested one. Pakistan have just come off a poor showing in New Zealand and have made a number of changes to their squad whilst the Proteas had a comfortable home series win again Sri Lanka. SA will be full of confidence, but Pakistan in their own back yard will be a totally different proposition than a depleted Sri Lanka at home.
Even though Pakistan have made a number of changes to their squad, they will be strong at home. Babar Azam returns to lead a side that boasts players like Azhar Ali, Yasir Shah, Shaheen-Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali. The youngsters coming in will also have a point to prove. In my view Yasir Shah could be our biggest problem. Although his form of late hasn't been great, he is experienced and has a wonderful record at home. The proteas have had their troubles against quality leg spinners over the years and will have to watch him carefully.
From a South African point of view the likes of Elgar, Markram, du Plessis, van der Dussen, Bavuma and de Kock need to kick on from the Sri Lankan series and post runs on the board. It will be good to have KG back as he is the leader of the attack. His experience in sub-continent conditions will also be invaluable to a relatively inexperienced pace attack. Our bowling is going to be crucial and we will have to hit the right lines and lengths early on to put pressure on Pakistan.
It should be a cracking series. Lets hope it makes for great viewing and that injuries and Covid 19 can take a bit of back seat for now!!
Inzy! Always a solid runout opportunity. Does he still hold the record? Shoukd be a good series.
ReplyDeleteHe still holds the record. Boycott used to say it was like trying to turn a tank around halfway down the pitch!!
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