After thumping Sri Lanka at home in Tests, South Africa is all set to tour Pakistan after 14 years. South Africa will play a two-match Test series, 1st of which will be played in Karachi starting on January 26, followed by the three T20Is from February 11 to 14.
South African ace pacer Kagiso Rabada, on Wednesday, said that reverse swing will play a key role in the upcoming two-match Test series in Pakistan.
Kagiso Rabada, who is returning to action after recovering from an injury, feels that reverse swing will play a role in the series and said that it would be nice to return home with the winner's trophy.
"We are expecting the bounce to be low and not much lateral movement so we think reverse swing will play a role in the series and we will have to bowl a straighter line. We all know that Pakistan will come fighting at us so it will be a challenging series. It would be nice to return home with the winners' trophy." Kagiso Rabada said in a video released by Cricket South Africa (CSA).
Kagiso Rabada further rates Test cricket very challenging among the formats and said that It is very rewarding to win Test matches
“Test cricket challenges you in every way and in different conditions. I also love playing ODIs and T20 but these days pitches in white-ball cricket are the same and good for batting, leading to high-scoring games. In Test cricket the conditions, the pitches they all challenge you and you have to adjust and change tactics as the game progresses.”
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“You have to work out ways to be on top of your game and it is challenging, mentally and physically. Because the intensity levels change all the time. It is very rewarding to win Test matches." he said.
Referring to the tour to Pakistan after 14 years Rabada said that he is happy to tour the country which has a rich cricket culture but will definitely miss the crowds in Pakistan.
"It's good to be playing in this area of the world knowing their cricket history and culture. They (crowd) add to the theatrics, excitement, and bring cooler and drama to the game. But I don't think the competition or intensity level is going to drop in this series because of no crowds." he said.
South Africa is the first of the top five cricketing nations to tour Pakistan since the 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore.
Commenting on the same Kagiso Rabada, 25, said that he has faith in the security arrangements that are put in place for the players.
"I have faith in their security in the way it has been implemented. I think I feel quite safe. I feel I can focus on cricket and I think the PCB has done a great job in showing we are safe, obviously not an ideal situation, also keeping in mind the Covid situation." he concluded.
Previously when proteas toured Pakistan in 2009 they emerged victorious in the two-match Test series.
(PTI inputs)
