Proteas captain Aiden Markram says Dewald Brevis or Tony de Zorzi will fill Temba Bavuma’s spot for the two-Test series in Pakistan.

Bavuma has been ruled out with a calf strain, forcing him to miss a second consecutive tour to the subcontinent after sitting out last year’s successful trip to Bangladesh with an elbow injury.

De Zorzi struck a superb 177 in Chattogram during that series, while Brevis travelled with the squad and has since earned his Test debut against Zimbabwe in June.

Brevis made 51, three and 30 in that Zimbabwe series, and De Zorzi nought, 31 and 10.

Markram said both players will be in contention when the Proteas open their World Test Championship title defence in Lahore on Sunday.

“He is definitely an option, especially in the way he plays spin and if the conditions are exaggerated,” Markram said of Brevis. “He can quickly change the momentum of the game doing what he does and playing the way he plays. He’ll be a definite consideration.

“But there’s a guy like Tony who played very well in Bangladesh,” Markram added. “I don’t think it’s a dead given straight-swap, but he’ll be in the conversation.”

MARKRAM: Proteas ready for spin test

Proteas Test squad vs Pakistan: Aiden Markram (c), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj*, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne. *Second Test only

Pakistan vs South Africa Test series
12-16 Oct: 1st Test, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
20-24 Oct: 2nd Test, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

Photo: Zimbabwe Cricket