South Africa have named uncapped middle-order batsman Zubayr Hamza and fast bowler Duanne Olivier in their squad for the three-Test home series against Pakistan starting on Boxing Day in Pretoria.
Cape Town-born Hamza, 23, averages almost 50 in first-class cricket but has had a modest domestic season to date with two fifties in nine innings and an average of just over 31.
The right-hander, who bats at No.3 for his provincial Cape Cobras side, has been rewarded for excellent form over the past 18 months and is viewed as a potential future team regular.
"Zubayr has been one of the standout cricketers in domestic cricket over the past year and carried that form into the South Africa A tour to India where he averaged over 50 in the four-day series against tough opposition and under tough conditions," Cricket South Africa selection convener Linda Zondi said on Thursday in a statement.
"Before that, he had an outstanding season in the four-day franchise competition where he scored 823 runs, including three centuries, at the impressive average of 69.
"His selection is part of our vision for the future as we start to feed new players into the system. It is inevitable that some of our senior players will start thinking of retiring in years to come and it is vital that we have a good succession plan in place."
South Africa have also recalled Olivier to replace the injured Lungi Ngidi, who will miss the entire Pakistan tour that also includes five one-day and three Twenty20 Internationals.
The Proteas have retained Hashim Amla despite poor form. His highest score in his past nine Test innings is 31 and he's been failing in domestic cricket, with Hamza's selection possibly much to do with the veteran's struggles.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn needs only one wicket to surpass Shaun Pollock as the country's highest Test wicket-taker and has been in excellent form domestically.
The second Test will be played from January 3-7 in Cape Town, with the series finale from January 11-15 in Johannesburg.
Squad:
Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn.
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