Pakistan kick off South Africa tour with three-day practice match

BENONI: Pakistan open their tour of South Africa with a three-day match against South African Invitation XI at Willowmoore Park in Benoni today.

This is the only game for the tourists before the first of three Tests starts in Centurion on December 26.

Opener Fakhar Zaman, who is suffering from a knee problem, is expected to play in the practice match.

Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, who is nursing a shoulder issue and spinner Shadab Khan who has a groin injury, are likely to sit out of the practice match today and remain in doubt for the first Test.

The warm-up match will provide Pakistan with the opportunity to get used to local conditions at a ground just 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the venue for the first Test.

The Tests will be followed by five one-day internationals in which both teams will be looking to settle on combinations ahead of the Cricket World Cup in England and Wales, starting on May 30.

There will also be three T20 internationals — a format in which Pakistan top the international rankings.

The match between Pakistan and South African Invitation XI will begin at 1pm Pakistan Standard Time.

Teams:

South African Invitation XI: Marques Ackerman(c), Matthew Breetzke(w), Tshepang Dithole, Simon Khomari, Thandolwethu Mnyaka, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Tsepo Ndwandwa, Onke Nyaku, Joshua Richards, Kyle Simmonds, Ruben Trumpelmann, Lwandiswa Zuma

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Azhar Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed(w/c), Shan Masood, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi