PAK vs SA Preview | Pakistan to take on South Africa in T20I series opener after Asia Cup 2025 debacle
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Pakistan will host South Africa in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. The Men in Green will aim to beat South Africa and start the series on a winning note, while the Proteas will look forward to winning this game and ending their winless run.
Pakistan are coming off a mixed run of form in the Asia Cup 2025, which concluded last month in September. They have won three games, while losing two in their last five fixtures in the shortest format of the game. Their previous game was against the arch-rivals, India, in the Asia Cup 2025 final, in which they lost by five wickets to end up as the runners-up in the continental tournament. Now, Salman Agha’s men will aim to beat South Africa and start the home T20I series on a winning note.
Speaking of South Africa, they haven’t been through an expected form in their last five T20Is, winning only one game while losing three games and a game ending without any result. In an unexpected upset, they are coming off a shocking four-wicket defeat against Namibia earlier this month. So, the Proteas will be eyeing winning this game against Pakistan get rid of their poor form.
Pakistan: W L W W L
South Africa: L W L A L
In the head-to-head contest, Pakistan and South Africa have taken on each other on 24 occasions in the T20 internationals. The fight has been on even note in this rivalry, with both teams winning 12 games each. In Pakistan, they have faced each other in three T20Is, in which the hosts have won two games, while the Proteas have won one. Both Pakistan and South Africa will eye winning this game and make the scoreline 13-12 in their favour.
The pitch is expected to look a bit flat with some grass cover, ideal for batting early but likely to quicken up under the lights, aiding seamers with the new ball.
It will be a mild autumn evening in Rawalpindi, expected to be a bit dry with a slight dew later. The temperatures are expected to hover around 25 degrees Celsius.
It will be the first T20I of the three-match series between Pakistan and South Africa. So, both teams will look forward to putting their best foot forward in the opener. They will plan to field a perfect playing XI to win this game and secure a lead in the series.
Pakistan Probable XI: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan (WK), Salman Agha (C), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Usman Tariq, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
South Africa Probable XI: Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Donnovan Ferreira (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), George Linde, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.
The first T20I of the three-match series, between Pakistan and South Africa will be digitally streamed live on the FanCode app and website.
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