LAHORE, Oct 7: While asserting categorically there will be no experiments in team selection for the Tests against South Africa, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq on Monday stressed his players, forgetting the recent loss in Zimbabwe, would have to concentrate on a major challenge posed by Proteas in the UAE.

Talking to reporters at the Lahore airport before leaving with the Test squad for the UAE to lead Pakistan in a two-Test series against Proteas, Misbah rejected the impression that Pakistan would be doing any major experiment in the Tests with one regular opener to be selected for the opening Test.

“A full-strength team will face the Proteas as no player will be tested as makeshift arrangement. There will be no experiment, and the second best opener will be selected from the three-day practice match between Pakistan ‘A’ and South Africa,” the 39-year-old Misbah said categorically.

Pakistan ‘A’ led by young batsman Umar Amin will face off with South Africa in the three-day match starting on Oct 8 in Sharjah.

Three players from the ‘A’ side will be added to the 12-member Pakistan squad before the first Test starting in Abu Dhabi on Oct 14.

The captain said Pakistan cricketers would have to perform to their full potential against South Africa, stressing the players should erase the memories of one bad Test against Zimbabwe from their minds.

“We have to focus on future instead of [remaining in] the past. We will have to play with full determination to earn positive results against the Proteas,” the skipper stated.

Besides two Tests, Pakistan will also play five ODIs and a couple of Twenty20 matches against South Africa, the world’s top-ranked Test team.

Either Ahmed Shehzad or Shan Masood is expected to be selected for the first Test, from the practice match to partner Khurram Manzoor as opener.

Though Misbah asserted there would be no experiment in the Test team selection, both Ahmed and Shan — the available opening batsmen choices — are yet to enter the highly demanding Test arena. Though Ahmed has played 27 One-day Internationals and 15 T20s, he hasn’t been tried in Test cricket which is pinnacle of the sport, while young Shan hasn’t even tasted international cricket at any level.

Shan, 23, replaced left-handed opener Imran Farhat for the recently concluded Zimbabwe tour but he could not claim a place in the playing XI as Mohammad Hafeez and Khurram Manzoor opened in both Tests. However, as Hafeez has now been dropped for the South Africa Tests, Shan (if Ahmed is not selected) will be the lone choice to open alongside Khurram.

Answering a question about Hafeez’s ouster from the Test outfit, Misbah said he was out of form (in five-day format) but hoped the seasoned all-rounder would stage a comeback.

Commenting on the UAE weather, Misbah said: “The hot weather in the UAE is not a problem for my team as we have played in these conditions on many occasions in the past.”

AFP adds: Misbah said his side was ready to take on the mighty South Africans, despite enduring a wretched recent run of form.

South Africa whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 at home earlier this year, but Misbah insisted his men would rise to the challenge.

“Our preparations and morale are good,” the skipper said. “We have to play competitive cricket in this tough series.”

Pakistan have won only one of their last eight Tests, with their batsmen letting them down repeatedly.