Both South Africa and Pakistan have named their playing XIs - a couple of injuries and a couple of players short of match fitness has meant that the hosts are going with an all-pace attack, so too are Pakistan and that doesn't come as a surprise.

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.

The highly anticipated first Test match between Pakistan and South Africa is set to take place at Centurion, starting on Boxing Day

With the World Test Championship (WTC) points at stake, South Africa will be keen to lock one of the two spots in the final as they begin their final assignment of the current cycle against Pakistan on 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.

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Boxing Day will see two blockbuster clashes as Australia hosts India while South Africa plays Pakistan at Melbourne and Centurion, respectively. Both India and Australia will have their eyes on how South Africa performs with the three teams competing for a place in the 2025 World Test Championship final scheduled to take place at Lord's.

Pakistan will be looking to maintain their momentum when they take on South Africa in the first Test of a two-match series that begins in Centurion on Thursday. The Boxing Day Test is significant for both teams.

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