Pakistan head coach Azhar Mahmood has indicated that the team may field a third spinner in the second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi as the hosts aim for a 2-0 series sweep.
Pakistan defeated world champions South Africa by 93 runs in four days last week, with spinners taking 34 of 40 wickets on a rotating pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Mahmood said leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed or uncapped 38-year-old left-armer Asif Afridi could be called up for the second and final Test starting Monday on a dry Rawalpindi pitch.
Left-armer Noman Ali took 10 wickets in the first Test, while his spin partner Sajid Khan finished with six.
With the pitch in Rawalpindi likely to rotate more as the match progresses, Mahmood stressed that runs in the first innings will be crucial whether you bat first or second.
“The field looks dry… so you need to score big and not depend on the toss for a favorable result,” Mahmood said.
South Africa will be strengthened by the return of experienced left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who missed the first Test with a groin injury.
“Keshav is fit and it’s obviously great to have him back,” said South Africa’s stand-in captain Aiden Markram.
“He brings great experience and a really good skill set.”
Maharaj is likely to team up with Senuran Muthusamy, who excelled with 11 wickets in the first Test.
“It’s very important for us to try to level the series,” said Markram, captain as Temba Bavuma is injured.
“We expect more spin in this Test but it is an opportunity for us.”
Tony de Zorzi made a century in the first Test, and Markram said the South Africans had ‘tapped him’ to understand ‘what worked against the Pakistan spinners’.
“It’s good to have someone with that confidence,” he added.
