Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq. – File Photo

CAPE TOWN: Pakistan's left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan made a claim for a Test place and senior batsman Younis Khan played himself into form on the second and final day of a practice match against an Emerging Cape Cobras team at the Western Province Cricket Club on Monday.

Irfan followed up his first innings haul of four for 20 with three for 20 as the home side, comprising amateur players from the Western Cape franchise, were bowled out for 78.

Set to make 59, the tourists romped to a ten-wicket win.

They batted on until they reached 126 for one, enabling Younis Khan to score 74 not out after his first four innings on tour yielded only 34 runs. The second Test starts at Newlands on Thursday.

Rahat Ali was preferred to the tall Irfan for the third seamer's role in the first Test in Johannesburg, which South Africa won by 211 runs, but Ali did not take a wicket.

Umar Gul and Junaid Khan, the two senior fast bowlers, were rested and Irfan's match haul of seven for 40 was easily the best return for the tourists in the practice match, with none of the other pace bowlers taking more than three wickets.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...