Confident Pakistan take on new-look South Africa in T20Is

Overview

Pakistan v South Africa, first T20I
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Thursday, 11 February; 15:30 local time

Pakistan are in top form at home. They showed both in Karachi and Rawalpindi that they are capable of dominating good teams with their batting as well as their bowling. After two big victories, they will be riding high and be looking forward to carrying their form in the shortest format as well.

Considering the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is just around eight months away, the teams will be hoping to get as much practice as possible in the T20Is.

The visitors will be without most of their regular players with wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen leading the side. Only four players from the Test squad will be featuring in the T20I one. They have three uncapped players on their list – fast bowler Okuhle Cele, wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Rickelton and batsman Jacques Snyman. The series provides them a good opportunity to build a solid bench keeping the T20 World Cup in mind.

For Pakistan too, there will be some notable omissions. Mohammad Hafeez has been left out, so has been Shadab Khan, who captained the side in the T20Is against New Zealand. They have four uncapped options available – left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar, all-rounder Danish Aziz, leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood and bowling all-rounder Amad Butt.

They will also be boosted by the presence of Hasan Ali, who was recalled for the T20Is. Hasan was brilliant in the Test series, picking up a 10-wicket haul in the second match.

Remember the last time

The last time, Pakistan played South Africa in a bilateral T20I series was back in 2018/19. It was South Africa's home series and they won it 2-1. But with a depleted side this time around, the visitors will face a tough task against a strong Pakistan outfit.

Also, South Africa have won only two of their last nine T20Is. In contrast, Pakistan, who have a better record, winning seven out of their last 10 completed T20Is.

What they said

Waqar Younis (Pakistan bowling coach): "The result of the Test series will have an impact on the T20I series. I can’t predict the ultimate result of the T20 series, but you will definitely see good results."

Heinrich Klassen (South Africa captain):"We are by no means a second-string T20 squad and we are looking to win. South Africa has got loads of talent, which people sometimes don’t see because we only have six franchises."