Pakistan banks on return of key players for T20I series against depleted South Africa

South Africa and Pakistan will kick off their three-match T20I series on Tuesday at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban.

The first match will be followed by the second match at Centurion's SuperSport Park and concludes at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

The visitors hold the upper hand in T20Is against South Africa, with 12 victories in 22 matchups.

Hosts missing key players

The Proteas will be without their regular skipper Aiden Markram and several other key players, including Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Tristan Stubbs, as they were involved in the Test series against Sri Lanka, which ended just a day before this T20I series begins.

Heinrich Klaasen will lead the side, with Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, and George Linde returning to the squad. Linde's inclusion marks his comeback to T20Is after a three-year hiatus.

For South Africa, the absence of several key players, puts added pressure on Klaasen and seasoned campaigners like David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen to deliver with the bat.

Pakistan trio returns

Meanwhile, Pakistan enters the series with confidence, having defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in their last T20I outing.

Mohammad Rizwan, who missed the Zimbabwe series, is set to return as captain. Pakistan also welcomes back experienced players Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, both of whom were rested during the Zimbabwe tour.

The inclusion of Saim Ayub, who impressed as an opener in Zimbabwe, may result in Babar dropping to the No. 3 position, potentially replacing Tayyab Tahir or Usman Khan in the playing XI.

Babar Azam’s record against South Africa is formidable, with 416 runs at a strike rate of 142 in just 11 innings, including a century. His comfort in South African conditions could make him a key player in the series opener.

Pakistan pacers Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain during the training session ahead of T20I series against South Africa.Pakistan Cricket Board

Shaheen Afridi’s return will further strengthen Pakistan’s pace attack, which also includes Haris Rauf, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, and Jahandad Khan. Sufiyan Muqeem, the leading wicket-taker in the Zimbabwe series, is expected to retain his spot as the specialist spinner.

Pitch and conditions

The conditions at Kingsmead Cricket Ground are anticipated to favor batters, with the pitch offering good bounce and carry. In the most recent T20I held in Durban, India faced South Africa, and Sanju Samson played a remarkable 107-run innings, helping India post a total of 202 while batting first.

Later in the game, spinners could come into play as the pitch provides some assistance, making the toss a pivotal factor in shaping strategies. In the same aforementioned match, India's Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi claimed three wickets each, bundling out South Africa for 141.

Both teams will aim to exploit the favorable batting conditions upfront, with powerplay performances being a key determinant.

Squads

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, Rassie van der Dussen

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, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (wk)