Maharaj, who missed the first ODI against Pakistan with a severe groin strain, will undergo a scan to assess the severity of the injury. Despite the setback, he has been named in the Test squad with Cricket South Africa (CSA) monitoring his recovery closely.

Pakistan fast bowler Khurram Shahzad has been added to the test squad for the two-match series against South Africa, the country's cricket board (PCB) said on Wednesday.

Dane Paterson bagged his second successive five-wicket haul and Corbin Bosch made a dream test debut with a wicket off his first ball as 13 batters fell to pace bowlers on an eventful start to the Boxing Day test match between South Africa and Pakistan on Thursday.

Wiaan Mulder, who missed out on the second Sri Lanka Test earlier in the season, has also been included in the squad as he completes the final phase of his recovery from a fractured finger.

South Africa will be eyeing a place in the World Test Championship final with an all-seam attack against Pakistan in the first test, starting Thursday.

South Africa are within touching distance of a place in next June’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s but must win at least one of their two tests against Pakistan, which start with the Boxing Day encounter in Pretoria.

Follow live coverage of South Africa vs Pakistan from the Pakistan in South Africa 2024/2025 today. The ICC Test Championship sees nine teams compete across a two-year cycle of matches before a two-team final decides the winner.

Shan Masood (C), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas. South Africa vs Pakistan Live Score: South Africa (Playing XI) - Aiden Markram,