Pakistan are all set to host South Africa in a Test series at home after almost 14 years. The Proteas side arrived in Karachi on Saturday (January 16) amid tight security to play two Tests and three T20Is, starting January 26.

Ahead of the Test series, Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said South Africa have always been a difficult opposition but the Babar Azam-led side will have the home advantage this time.

"South Africa has never been an easy side to beat, but them playing after 13 years in Pakistan will be an advantage for us, and we have a great chance to improve our record against them," Misbah quoted as saying by PTI.

According to the Pakistan coach, the two Test matches, part of the ICC World Test Championship fixtures, are very important for the home side.

"Playing at home ground is always encouraging for the players, and it reflected in our performances in the series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh last year," Misbah said.

Coming to Pakistan’s performance in the World Test Championship, they have won series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in late 2019 and early 2020 at home before losing successive away Test tours to Australia, England and New Zealand.

Following the recent 2-0 series defeat to New Zealand, Pakistan's new chief selector Muhammad Wasim picked nine uncapped players in a revamped 20-member squad for the Test series against South Africa.

"The series against South Africa is an important one, and I am sure the players selected in the squad have the potential and hunger to give best results in the series," Misbah said.

Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series:

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Abid Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tabish Khan

(With PTI inputs)