The off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq is expected to play despite severe bruising to his neck but Mohammad Akram, the opening bowler who suffered hand and foot injuries in the robbery outside the team's hotel, is ruled out.
Akram, complaining of difficulty in breathing, was yesterday treated by an orthopaedic surgeon for damage in the rib cage area.
Pakistan had asked for the match to be put off until next Thursday but Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, ruled out such a lengthy postponement, largely on the grounds of cost.
He estimated that such rescheduling would run to ``many millions of rand'' and that a lengthy delay would have ``serious financial repercussions'' for both teams.
Rashid Latif, the Pakistan captain, said: ``We feel that it is right for the sake of cricket that the game should go ahead this week. Team selection will be a problem but we want to put these troubles behind us and get on with playing.''
With Waqar Younis suffering from a side strain, Pakistan had hoped Akram would be their main strike bowler here. His absence now means they may have to play Shoaib Akhtar despite his damaged knee ligaments.
Haroon Rashid, the Pakistan coach, acknowledged that it would be ``a gamble'' to play Akhtar, who has had fluid drained from his knee and who may have to fly home after the game for treatment. But by then, the Pakistanis hope to have brought out another fast bowler, possibly Aaqib Javed, to fill the gap.
A flurry of calls during the night helped to resolve the crisis. President Mandela sent the Pakistan team a message of sympathy and apology. In addition, the South African High Commission in Islamabad has been in touch with the Pakistan government and Bacher discussed the situation with the chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Majid Khan, who assured him the Test and the tour must go ahead.
Bacher said the report he had received on Akhtar was that the injury was so serious he could be out of the game for some time. The player announced himself ready to play, but was uncertain whether he would last the five days.
Bacher said ``no gun'' had been held to the heads of the Pakistan side to force them to play this week. ``But I just don't want to contemplate the difficulties of a longer delay,'' he added.
Television rights have been sold to the subcontinent but, because of other sporting commitments, South African television might not be able to cover the game next week.
There was the added problem of loss of revenue for the South African team sponsors, a brewery. On top of everything, the Wanderers ground authority said they, too, faced competing demands next week and 5,500 tickets had been sold for the original first day - now interchangeable for today.
Bacher said that it would be necessary in future to offer enhanced security to visiting cricket, rugby and football teams ``so they have the confidence to play in the right atmosphere''.
When the first Test to be delayed by crime finally gets under way, it will make history in another respect. Two vice-captains, both left-handers and opening bats in Gary Kirsten and Aamir Sohail step up to lead their sides for the first time at this level.
Latif is suffering from a disc prolapse, while Hansie Cronje is still recovering from a knee operation which he had immediately after arriving back from the Australia tour.
Cronje has written a letter of apology to the Australian Cricket Board following an incident at the conclusion of the final Test in Adelaide when a stump apparently pierced the door of the umpire's room.
Frustration at being unable to bowl Australia out and level the series may have led to the incident. Bacher said that he understood the ACB would be taking no further action.
South Africa: *G Kirsten, A M Bacher, J H Kallis, D J Cullinan, A C Hudson, H H Gibbs, S M Pollock, -M V Boucher, L Klusener, P L Symcox, A A Donald.
Pakistan (from): *Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, -Moin Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Mohammad, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar or Ali Naqvi.