Pakistan ready to take on South Africa in first ODI in Paarl

Pakistan is set to take on South Africa in the first of the three-match One Day International (ODI) series at the iconic Boland Park in Paarl on Tuesday.

The match will be followed by a second ODI at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday and annual Pink Day and final ODI at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The last time these two teams locked horns in a bilateral series in the one-day format, Pakistan was victorious 2-1 in the three-match series in South Africa in April 2021.

However, the hosts will be confident coming into the series following their dominating 2-0 win against Team Green in the Twenty20 series last week.

Key Pakistan strength

With the inclusion of pacer Naseem Shah, opening batsman Abdullah Shafique, and top-order batter Kamran Ghulam, Pakistan’s squad has seen formidable strength.

Additionally, wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim and all-rounder Usman Khan have earned their first ODI call-ups. This series will be Mohammad Rizwan's third as captain, having led Pakistan to back-to-back ODI series victories against Australia and Zimbabwe.

“This is a vital ODI series in terms of our preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy and with Allah’s help we will look to emulate our performances from the ODI series against Australia,” Rizwan was quoted as saying in a press release by Pakistan Cricket Board.

Confident Rizwan

The skipper said that while the team couldn’t get the ideal results in the T20I series, he was really happy with some of the performances put in by the players in these conditions. “Our batting, pace and spin stocks are decent enough to challenge South Africa and win the series with the help of the almighty,” he said.

Mohammad Rizwan batting during first T20I against South Africa AFP

“I see a lot of potential in our ODI squad with players young and experienced both willing to put the best step forward, which makes us an exciting prospect as a one-day side not just going into this series but also in the home tri-nation series and the blockbuster white-ball mega event at home.”

Build-up to Champions Trophy

The ODI series is crucial for both teams as they aim to fine-tune their preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy, which will take place in Pakistan in February and March 2025.

Although Pakistan will compete in a tri-series at home against New Zealand and South Africa in February before the mega event, it is unlikely they will face the full-strength South African squad given the timing of those matches, which will happen too close to the conclusion of the SA20 on February 8.

Return of top Proteas' players

With the return of captain Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, South Africa have named their strongest available squad against Pakistan for the 50-over series.

The South African squad features nine changes from the team that last played an ODI, against Ireland in the UAE, all of whom haven’t appeared in the format since the match in December 2023 against India, except Bavuma who was injured in the second ODI against Ireland in Abu Dhabi.

Walter backs young talent

The only uncapped player in the squad is 18-year-old fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, the teenager who dismissed Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the first T20I in Durban. Maphaka, who was the top wicket-taker in this year’s Under-19 World Cup, has caught attention with his pace in the T20I series against Pakistan, reaching speeds of up to 152kph.

Kwena Maphaka celebrating after taking a wicket in the first T20I against Pakistan CSA

"The bowling line-up features one of the fastest in the game in KG, and this series offers another great opportunity for a young talent like Kwena to come in and learn first-hand from the best," Rob Walter, South Africa's white-ball coach, said in a press release by Cricket South Africa.

“In the batting department, we are thrilled to welcome back David and Heinrich, two of the most destructive players in the game. Overall, we are very pleased with this squad."

Squads:

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Marco Jansen, Ottneil Baartman, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tony de Zorzi, and Tristan Stubbs