T20I Series to Set the Stage for South Africa vs Pakistan Tour

Grassroots Cricket|

South Africa is set to host Pakistan in an all-format cricket tour, beginning with a three-match T20I series starting Tuesday, December 10. This will be followed by a three-match ODI series and two Tests, ensuring an exciting month of cricket action.

The T20I series opener will take place at Kingsmead, Durban, followed by matches at SuperSport Park, Centurion, and the final game at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.

The Proteas will field a revamped squad under the leadership of Heinrich Klaasen, as regular T20I skipper Aiden Markram and other multi-format players will miss the series due to their Test commitments against Sri Lanka. Despite the absence of key players, South Africa’s squad boasts firepower with experienced names like David Miller, Anrich Nortje, and Rassie van der Dussen. The hosts recently played a competitive T20I series against India.

Pakistan, under Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy, will be boosted by the return of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, both of whom were rested during the Zimbabwe tour. Pakistan’s revamped side recently secured a series win against Zimbabwe meanwhile the regular side had lost a T20 series prior in Australia but managed to secure an ODI series win.

This tour also marks their first bilateral T20I series in South Africa since 2021, where they won 3-1. Historically, Pakistan holds a strong record in South Africa, winning two of their last three T20I series there.

The last meeting between these teams in the shortest format was in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan claimed a crucial win in a rain-affected encounter.

South Africa and Pakistan have faced off in 22 T20Is, with Pakistan narrowly leading the record 12-10.

 

Match schedule:

 

1st T20I: December 10, Durban 9PM PKT

2nd T20I: December 12, Centurion 9PM PKT

3rd T20I: December 14, Johannesburg 9PM PKT

 

Squads:

 

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

 

South Africa: Heinrich Klaasen (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Simelane, and Rassie van der Dussen.