Latif Selects Bavuma as Captain in WTC Team of the Tournament

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has revealed his Team of the Tournament for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25, prior to any formal announcement. Notably, no Pakistani players were included in his selection.

Latif shared his chosen XI on X, identifying South Africa’s Temba Bavuma, who recently led his team to a trophy, as the captain. Fellow South African Kyle Verreynne was picked as the wicketkeeper.

Opening Pair

For openers, Latif chose India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal and Australia’s Usman Khawaja. Jaiswal was India’s highest scorer in the WTC cycle, amassing 1,798 runs at an average of 52.88, with four centuries. Khawaja was the top scorer for Australia, with 1,428 runs at an average of 39.66, including two centuries.

Middle Order

England’s Joe Root, who scored the most runs in the WTC 2023–25 cycle, was positioned at number three. Root accumulated an impressive 1,968 runs at an average of 54.66, with seven centuries.

The middle order consists of South Africa’s Bavuma, who recently ended his country’s long wait for an ICC title, alongside England’s Harry Brook and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis. Brook added 1,463 runs in the cycle, while Mendis stood out with 1,123 runs at an average of 62.38.

Bowling Attack

Latif’s bowling lineup combines spin and pace. Australia’s experienced spinner Nathan Lyon was selected, having taken 66 wickets during the cycle.

He is accompanied by New Zealand’s Matt Henry, who claimed 48 wickets, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, who secured nine vital wickets in the final, and India’s leading fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

Bumrah was instrumental in India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign, securing 32 wickets and being named Player of the Series. He was second on the WTC wicket-takers list with 77 wickets, only behind Australia’s captain Pat Cummins, who took 80 wickets in 18 matches.

South Africa clinched their WTC title on Saturday, successfully chasing a target of 282 against Australia in the final at Lord’s. Bavuma and Aiden Markram provided stability to the innings, while the bowlers dismissed the Australian batting lineup, marking South Africa’s first ICC tournament victory since the 1998 Champions Trophy.

Despite having a 74-run lead after the first innings, Australia struggled in their second innings. Though Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey showed some resistance, they were unable to stop South Africa from achieving victory.

Rashid Latif’s ICC WTC 2023–25 Team of the Tournament:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Usman Khawaja, Joe Root, Temba Bavuma (captain), Harry Brook, Kamindu Mendis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Nathan Lyon, Matt Henry, Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah.