During the second match against South Africa, which started at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday, Pakistan awarded a Test cap to 39-year-old left-arm spinner Asif Afridi, who has been banned for six months for spot-fixing.
Pakistan spinners, southpaw Noman Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan, have been paired with Afridi rather than the more experienced Abrar Ahmed.
For his involvement in spot-fixing in domestic cricket, Afridi was given a one-year ban. He served six months before being permitted to return, but the Pakistan Cricket Board has not provided an explanation for lifting the ban.
Since Afridi will be paired with Noman Ali, who is already well-established and took 10 wickets in Pakistan’s 94-run victory in the opening match in Lahore, the team management has decided to use two left-arm spinners in the second Test.
Shaheen Shah Afridi is the only fast bowler Pakistan is using.
The return of left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who missed the first Test because of fitness concerns, has also helped South Africa.
After losing the first Test, the visitors have also chosen to bench Wiaan Mulder and Prenelan Subrayen in favor of tall left-arm bowler Marco Jansen.
