Bosch earns maiden call-up as Proteas name 16-man squad for Pakistan Test series

Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad on Wednesday named a 16-man squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against Pakistan.

The first Test is at SuperSport Park in Centurion from 26-30 December and the second encounter will take place at Newlands in Cape Town from 3-7 January.

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There is a maiden call-up for Titans seamer Corbin Bosch, who is rewarded for stellar performances on the domestic front.

Bosch boasts a tally of 72 wickets at average of 36.76 in first class cricket and also averages 40.46 with the bat. The 30-year-old recently featured for the SA Invitational XI side that defeated the England Lions in Cape Town.

Uncapped Lions pacer, Kwena Maphaka, who was part of the Proteas squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka, is also retained in the squad.

Elsewhere, Lions all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has also been included as he completes his recovery from a fractured right middle finger which kept him out of the second Test against Sri Lanka. Should Mulder be declared fit, then Warriors batsman Matthew Breetzke will be released from the squad.

Meanwhile off-spinner Keshav Maharaj, who sustained an acute groin strain during the warm-up ahead of Tuesday's ODI against Pakistan in Paarl, is included in the squad. He will, however,  undergo a scan on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.

Temba Bavuma will again lead the Proteas in what will be their final Test series in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025 cycle, where they currently occupy top spot. The South Africans only need one win from their two Tests against Pakistan to book a spot in the final.

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