Pakistan is sticking with what works best, their spin attack. After securing a convincing victory in the first Test match in Lahore, the team is once again banking on its spin bowling strength to clinch the series against South Africa.
Interim red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood made this clear during a press conference held on Monday, just ahead of the crucial second Test.
Mahmood opened up about the team’s preparation strategy, revealing that the pre-series training camp had a very specific focus. Rather than generic practice sessions, the entire camp was designed around one key objective: getting players comfortable and effective on spin-friendly Pakistani pitches.
The coaching staff worked intensively with both batsmen and bowlers on adapting to conditions where the ball turns sharply and behaves unpredictably.
“The camp was aimed at preparing players to play spin effectively on these pitches,” Mahmood explained to the gathered media.
The preparation wasn’t just about bowling spin; it was equally about batting against it. Players spent considerable time working on their shot selection against spinners and developing smart scoring strategies that minimize risk while keeping the scoreboard moving.
When questioned about team selection for the second Test, the coach remained cautious. He confirmed that the final playing XI would only be announced on match morning after assessing the pitch conditions.
However, he hinted that fans shouldn’t expect dramatic changes, with only minor adjustments likely from the winning combination that delivered success in Lahore.
