Pakistan will face South Africa on February 12 in a crucial ODI tri-series match at the National Stadium in Karachi. This encounter serves as a virtual semi-final, with a place in the final against New Zealand at stake. Both teams are motivated by their previous losses to New Zealand, making this match critical ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Pakistan is preparing to face South Africa on February 12, in their final group-stage match of the ODI tri-series at the National Stadium in Karachi. This match is crucial for both teams, as it acts as a virtual semi-final for a place in the final against New Zealand, who have already secured their spot. Given that both Pakistan and South Africa lost to New Zealand in their prior match, the stakes are high for this encounter.
Pakistan is particularly motivated to win, as they would not want to be eliminated from the tri-series in their own country, especially with them set to host the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy at the same venues where this series is being held. In contrast, South Africa has included six uncapped players in their squad and aims to gain valuable momentum before the Champions Trophy next week.
The probable playing eleven for Pakistan includes the following players: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Khushdil Shah, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed. South Africa’s potential lineup consists of Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith, Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper), Wiaan Mulder, Mihlali Mpongwana, Senuran Muthusamy, Eathan Bosch, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi, and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Historically, South Africa holds a significant advantage over Pakistan in their one-day international encounters. They have faced each other 86 times, with South Africa winning 52 matches and Pakistan securing victory in 33, along with one match that resulted in no outcome.
The squads for both teams are as follows: Pakistan’s roster comprises Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Usman Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Faheem Ashraf, and Saud Shakeel. South Africa’s lineup includes Temba Bavuma (captain), Eathan Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Junior Dala, Wiaan Mulder, Mihlali Mpongwana, Senuran Muthusamy, Gideon Peters, Meeka-eel Prince, Jason Smith, and Kyle Verreynne.
Viewers in India can watch the live telecast of this important match on the Sony Sports Network, specifically on Sony Ten 1. The toss for the match is scheduled to take place at 2:30 PM IST, with the game expected to begin at 3:00 PM IST. For live streaming, fans can access the coverage through the FanCode application and website.
In summary, the upcoming ODI tri-series match between Pakistan and South Africa on February 12 is essential for both teams as they vie for a spot in the final against New Zealand. With high stakes, Pakistan looks to overcome the pressure of elimination at home, while South Africa seeks to build momentum with a young squad. Viewers can follow the match via live telecast on Sony Sports Network and stream it on FanCode.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
