The Pakistan team management and selection committee have finalized a strategy to play with seven specialist batsmen in the first Test against South Africa, starting Thursday at SuperSport Park, Centurion.  

According to reports, Pakistan’s innings will be opened by the in-form Saim Ayub alongside captain Shan Masood.  

Former Test captain Babar Azam, who was dropped from the second and third Tests against England after scoring 30 and 5 runs in the first Test in Multan, has been recalled to replace the out-of-form Abdullah Shafique. Babar will bat at number three.  

Kamran Ghulam will take the fourth spot, followed by vice-captain Saud Shakeel at number five. Limited-overs captain and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan will bat at number six.  

Batting all-rounder Salman Ali Agha will complete the lineup, coming in at number seven.  The second Test of the series will be played on January 3 in Cape Town.