Pakistan (Playing XI) – Mohammad Rizwan (C/WK), Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed.
South Africa (Playing XI) – Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (C/WK), Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Andile Simelane, Nqabayomzi Peter, Kwena Maphaka, Ottneil Baartman.
TOSS – South Africa have won the toss and they will BAT first.
Historically, Pakistan have had the upper hand in T20Is between these two teams, including a dominant 3-1 series win on South African soil back in 2021. South Africa will be keen to turn the tables and secure their first series in T20Is over Pakistan since 2019. So, sit back, relax, and get ready for an exciting match between two top cricketing nations. Stick around for the toss and team news.
On the other hand, Pakistan enter the series on the back of a white-ball adventure in Zimbabwe, and they will be eager to carry that momentum forward. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan returns, as does Babar Azam, and a lot will rest on the shoulders of this experienced duo. Saim Ayub, in the early stages of his T20I career, has begun well, and he will be keen to excel here. The playing XI announced earlier in the day boasts of a formidable pace trio of Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Abbas Afridi, with Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed handling the spin bowling duties.
South Africa enter this series with some fresh changes in their T20I squad. The Proteas will be without some key players for the T20I leg, including the likes of Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Keshav Maharaj, all of whom were involved in the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka. In Markram’s absence, Heinrich Klaasen will take over the reins. Despite these absences, the South African batting lineup remains potent, with experienced campaigners like Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, and Rassie van der Dussen. The spin department will be manned by the likes of Tabraiz Shamsi and George Linde, though Shamsi’s availability for this game is uncertain due to his participation in the recently concluded Global Super League. The pace attack will be led by Anrich Nortje, and it also features exciting names like Kwena Maphaka and Ottneil Baartman.
Hello and welcome to the first T20I of the three-match series between South Africa and Pakistan at Kingsmead in Durban. Cricket fans around the world are in for a thrilling ride as these two cricketing giants lock horns in what promises to be an exciting clash to kick off this multi-format series. The series will feature three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests, adding another layer of intensity to the non-stop cricket calendar that has become a hallmark of modern-day international cricket.
Modern cricket has evolved into a non-stop spectacle, treating fans to endless action across the globe. Adding to this perpetual cricket calendar, South Africa is set to host Pakistan in an exciting multi-format series, spanning T20Is, ODIs, and Tests. The tour begins at Durban’s historic Kingsmead ground with the first of three T20Is, before moving on to three ODIs and two Test matches. The Proteas T20I squad sees some notable changes, with Heinrich Klaasen taking the captaincy reins in place of Aiden Markram, who’s focused on his Test captain duties. Several key players – Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Keshav Maharaj – will sit out the T20Is following their involvement in the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, though they’re scheduled to return for the ODI leg. The spin department will be handled by a trio comprising Tabraiz Shamsi, Nqabayomzi Peter, and George Linde. The pace bowling responsibilities fall to young talents Kwena Maphaka, Andile Simelane, and Ottneil Baartman, with Patrick Kruger providing an additional all-round option. Despite some absences, the batting lineup remains formidable, featuring experienced campaigners like Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, and David Miller alongside captain Klaasen. Pakistan enters the series riding high on confidence following their successful white-ball campaign in Zimbabwe. The squad, led by the dynamic Mohammad Rizwan, who’ll also don the keeping gloves, presents a formidable unit on paper. In the batting department, all eyes will be on Babar Azam, despite his recent form concerns. The former captain remains a crucial figure in the top order, supported by emerging talents Saim Ayub and Usman Khan. The squad has been refreshed with new faces, including Omair Yousuf and Tayyab Tahir, while all-rounder Salman Agha adds depth to the lineup. The bowling arsenal looks particularly threatening with the pace trio of Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Abbas. The spin contingent features Abrar Ahmed and Salman Agha as the primary options, with Sufiyan Muqeem providing additional support. Pakistan carries a psychological advantage in this series, having historically dominated South Africa in T20Is. They’ll draw particular confidence from their previous tour in 2021, where they secured a convincing 3-1 series victory on South African soil. The last South Africa won a series against Pakistan was back in 2018/19 when Faf du Plessis used to lead the pack. So, it’s been quite a wait for them to defeat Pakistan, that too, on their home soil. However, if we look at their overall head-to-head clashes, it shows how closely contested these two teams have been, with Pakistan having a thin edge over the South Africans by 12-10. Will the Proteas pack a punch this time, or can Pakistan maintain their winning streak? Whatever the result is, this series will be a sure-shot box-office entertainer.
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