In the next 10 months they play 16 Tests and a possible maximum of 28 one-day internationals, culminating in a full tour of England in 1998.

After Pakistan, South Africa go to Australia. Then they play hosts to Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the spring before coming to England for a five-Test series.

In the middle of all that activity Hansie Cronje's team play four multi-sided limited overs international series in Pakistan and in Australia, then at home and finally with Sri Lanka in England next summer.

Yet the side selected for this game is largely composed of older, tried players - even down to preferring Pat Symcox to Paul Adams as the spinner.

Andrew Hudson is left out, with Adam Bacher retaining his place at the top of the order alongside vice-captain Gary Kirsten on the strength of his form against Australia at the beginning of this year.

Pakistan are likely to call up two of the A side that toured England this summer - Mohammad Wasim, who captained the party, and opening bat Ali Naqvi, who has already scored a hundred and a fifty against the South Africans in their opening game of the tour.

The Pakistan selectors have not considered Wasim Akram because of fitness doubts for the five-day game. Four bowlers who played in the English domestic game this season are included: Waqar Younis and Allan Donald, and the two Pakistan spinners Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq.

South Africa: *W J Cronje, G Kirsten, A M Bacher, B M McMillan, D J Cullinan, J H Kallis, S M Pollock, D J Richardson, P L Symcox, A A Donald, B N Schultz.

Pakistan (from): *Saeed Anwar, Ali Naqvi, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Waqar Younis, Moin Khan, Shahid Nazir, Azhar Mehmood, Mohammad Akram, Salim Elahi, Mohammad Ramzan.