Pakistan are “well-prepared” to take on World Test Championship holders South Africa in their upcoming two-match series, interim red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood confirmed ahead of the first Test at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday. The second Test is scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi from October 20, marking the start of Pakistan’s 2025-27 WTC campaign after finishing bottom in the previous cycle.
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Azhar highlighted that Pakistan’s recent success at home was built on preparing rank-turning pitches, a strategy that helped them secure their first home series win since 2021. While the upcoming series against South Africa will feature pitches that spin more gradually, the coach believes following their established process will be key to success. “It won’t spin like it did during the England and West Indies series. It will definitely spin, but gradually as the match progresses. We’ve found a way of winning Test matches at home, and if we keep following our process, I’m hopeful we’ll go a long way in the Championship,” he said.
The team has been preparing intensively for the series, starting a 30-day camp at the National Cricket Academy to counter red-ball rustiness among the players. The training focused on addressing batting vulnerabilities against spin on turning tracks while also analysing South Africa’s strengths, including pacers like Kagiso Rabada and spinner Keshav Jansen. Azhar emphasized that the team’s focus remains on execution rather than being intimidated by the opposition. “It’s not about them, it’s about us. How we manage things and consistently win sessions — that’s our focus. They are a quality side, but we have to take care of our own game,” he remarked.
Pakistan’s squad reflects a spin-heavy approach, with the inclusion of domestic veteran Asif Afridi as a potential like-for-like replacement for mainstay Noman Ali. Afridi, 38, has taken 57 wickets in 198 first-class matches and amassed 80 wickets over the past two years. Despite criticism over his age, Azhar defended the selection, citing his recent performances. “He is part of our squad and not selected just for nets. If you look back at his performances over the past two years — he took 53 wickets last year and 27 this year, making it 80 in total. Age is just a number,” Azhar said.
With preparations focused on consistency, execution, and leveraging their spin resources, Pakistan aim to challenge the champions from the very first session. Azhar’s confidence in the squad, combined with careful planning and analysis, sets the stage for a compelling series that will test Pakistan’s ability to compete at the highest level in the World Test Championship.
