South Africa has included Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder in their squad for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan, despite both players dealing with injuries. Maharaj, who suffered a groin strain during warm-ups ahead of the first ODI against Pakistan, was initially ruled out of the match. He will undergo a scan to assess the severity of the injury. The squad includes only one specialist spinner, the left-arm spin-bowling allrounder, and Senuran Muthusamy.
Mulder, who is recovering from a broken right middle finger sustained during the Sri Lanka series, is in the final stages of his recovery. If the medical staff clears him to play, top-order batter Matthew Breetzke will leave the squad to make way for Mulder.
The squad also includes two uncapped players: seam bowlers Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka. Bosch, the son of former South African cricketer Tertius, receives his first international call-up after impressing with the South African Invitation XI against the England Lions. Maphaka, who joined the squad during the Sri Lanka series as cover for the injured Gerald Coetzee, is part of the squad and is currently playing in the ODI series against Pakistan.
South Africa is also managing their bowling resources carefully, with Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen both featuring in the ODI series but unlikely to play in all three matches due to workload management. Injuries have sidelined other players like Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, and Lizaad Williams.
South Africa, currently in contention for the World Test Championship final, will face Pakistan in two Tests, starting on Boxing Day at SuperSport Park, followed by the New Year’s Test at Newlands.
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