Do-or-die. That is all there is to today’s match-up for the Men in Green. The former champions are in dire need of a huge victory, but it will not come easy as they face none other than the feared and fiery-hot South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai.
And to get things going, we have the toss happening. The news is that Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first.
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The Pakistan side that won the tournament in 1992 won five games in a row when their campaign was on the brink of collapsing. Four in a row in 2023 will likely put Pakistan in the semifinals. But embarking on a run like that will be no mean feat especially when South Africa are the first of those four opponents.
Except for their hiccup against Netherlands, South Africa have posted a 400 plus score, 399, 382 and a 300 plus score so far in five games. The firepower in that batting lineup has already been the talking point of the tournament, so for an out-of-form pace attack to contain them is going to be no mean task.
Pakistan urgently need a win to keep up their hopes of a top-four finish, but after last week’s loss to Afghanistan – not to mention their previous crushing by India – they currently look someway short of the standards above them in the table.
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Captain’s Comments:
Babar Azam (PAK): We’ll bat first. Every match is important now and we are focusing on that. All departments we need to improve, fielding especially. We need to stick together and discuss how to get better. I’m happy to do well myself now. Two changes – Hasan Ali is sick, so Waseem Jr comes in.
Temba Bavuma (SA): We’ve played some good cricket, inspirational performances. We’ve build some momentum with our bowlers and batters clicking. This is not like a T20 WC where you play just 4-5 group games, we need to keep doing well. I would have surely batted here, looks like a good wicket. Three changes – I come back, Tabriz Shamsi and Ngidi comes in. Reeza Hendricks, Rabada and Lizaad Williams miss out.
Playing XI:
Pakistan:
Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf
South Africa:
Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi
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