Pakistan’s Haider Ali (R) celebrates next to Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on November 8, 2020.after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on November 8, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)
Pakistan vs South Africa – First T20I preview: Where to watch, key players, history
The first of three Pakistan vs South Africa T20Is gets underway in Lahore on Thursday with the Proteas sporting a new-look squad.
Pakistan’s Haider Ali (R) celebrates next to Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on November 8, 2020.after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on November 8, 2020. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)
Pakistan vs South Africa: Pakistan meet South Africa in the first of three T20Is on Thursday 11 February 2021 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The match will be played behind closed doors, with the action set to get underway at 12:30 (SAST).
Pakistan vs South Africa: T20I History
The two sides have met in 14 T20Is with the Proteas winning eight and six being taken by Pakistan.
This series will mark the first time South Africa has played a T20I in Pakistan with the 2010 and 2013 bilateral series being played in the UAE.
In March 2013 Pakistan struck 195 for 7 at Centurion which remains the highest score achieved in T20Is between the two countries.
Match preview
South Africa come into the series as distinct underdogs having opeted to leave out their multi-format stars, originally to prepare for the now cancelled Test series against Australa.
The series does present opportunities for young players to impress and for some of the fringe players to establish themselves as key members of the group.
South Africa have lost their last four T20Is including a 3-0 series whitewash sustained at the hands of England in November 2020.
Pakistan also have a number of new faces in their 20-man squad with left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar, all-rounder Danish Aziz, leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood and bowling all-rounder Amad Butt all in line to possibly debut.
The hosts come into the series off the back of a 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand but sport an impressive home record having not last in their last six T20Is in Pakistan.
Pakistan vs South Africa: Squads
Pakistan
Babar Azam (c), Aamer Yamin, Amad Butt, Asif Ali, Danish Aziz, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Qadir, Zafar Gohar, Zahid Mehmood, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed.
Heinrich Klaasen (captain), Nandre Burger, Okuhle Cele, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Ryan Rickleton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Jon-Jon Smuts, Jacques Snyman, Glenton Stuurman, Pite van Biljon.
Pakistan vs South Africa: Key players
Babar Azam stands out as Pakistan’s dangerman with a T20I average of over 50 coming into the series. Babar has been one of the most consistent batsmen in the format for a number of years and has been central to the team becoming competitive again.
Hasan Ali returned to great effect in the Test series but he will need to make the transition to T20Is as smoothly as possible. He has a decent record in the format but tends to leak runs which could put pressure on the spinners.
David Miller is the most experienced Proteas campaigner and needs just eight runs to move of Shahid Afridi into 38th on the list of all-time T20I top-scorers. Miller is perhaps the batsman most under pressure to perform having played very little cricket and endured a quiet IPL after being run out without facing a ball in his only at bat.
Tabraiz Shamsi has come on in leaps and bounds to establish himself as the Proteas leading white-ball spinner and will be asked to do a lot through the middle overs against players adept at attacking spinners.
Match info – Where to watch
MATCH DETAILS
| Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | |
| Series | South Africa tour of Pakistan |
| Season | 2020/21 |
| Match number | T20 No. 1120 |
| Match days | 11 February 2021 – night match (20-over match) |
TV details
Broadcast: Supersport Cricket from 12:30 (SAST)
Streaming: DStv Now
