Rawalpindi, October 19, 2025: Pakistan’s interim red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood on Sunday suggested that only minor tweaks are expected in the playing XI for the second Test against South Africa, set to begin on Monday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Mahmood said the team would finalise its lineup after assessing the pitch conditions on the morning of the match.
“We’re waiting to see how the pitch behaves. It looks quite dry, so there might be one change at most,” Mahmood said. “It’s possible we go with a 3-1 combination — three spinners and one pacer — but the decision will be made after inspection tomorrow.”
The former all-rounder stressed the importance of each home Test in Pakistan’s World Test Championship (WTC) campaign, describing them as crucial stepping stones toward the larger goal.
“Our six home Tests will be very important,” he said. “We’ll take things step by step, especially since we’ll also play in tough away conditions in places like the West Indies, Bangladesh, and England. Test cricket is about winning each session — that’s how you build towards the ultimate aim: winning the WTC.”
Mahmood lauded the players’ morale following Pakistan’s victory in the first Test, highlighting team cohesion and confidence as key factors behind recent success.
“The team has been playing together for quite some time, and confidence is high,” he noted. “Everyone understands the importance of these wins, and the unity in the dressing room is outstanding.”
The 50-year-old clarified recent online claims that he had questioned Pakistan’s spin quality, saying his comments had been misinterpreted.
“Some people said I claimed Pakistan lacks quality spinners — that’s not true,” Mahmood said. “I only mentioned that our Bangladesh series squad didn’t include spinners, but we do have many talented ones coming through.”
He reiterated that Pakistan’s home strategy in Test cricket revolves around taking 20 wickets, whether through pace or spin.
“That’s always our goal — you win Tests by taking 20 wickets, no matter who delivers them,” he added.
Looking ahead, Mahmood confirmed that discussions were underway to ensure more long-format opportunities for Pakistan’s Test side.
“Yes, we’ve talked about it,” he said. “While five-Test series are rare these days, we believe every series should have at least three matches.”
