DURBAN, South Africa: Pakistan and South Africa are ready to lock horns in an all-format cricket series for the first time since 2019, which will begin with the first of three T20Is at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on Tuesday, December 10.
The second match of the T20I leg will be played on December 13 at SuperSport Park in Centurion and December 14 at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
The three ODIs will take place on December 17, 19 and 22 followed by the Centurion Test on December 26 and Cape Town Test on January 3, 2025.
Pakistan’s Squad Returns to Full Strength
Pakistan’s white-ball squad, led by wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, arrived in Durban last week. The team, fresh off a successful white-ball tour of Zimbabwe, has bolstered its ranks with the return of star players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, who missed the Zimbabwe series.
Emerging talent Sufiyan Muqeem, who made headlines with a five-wicket haul against Zimbabwe, adds depth to the squad.
Speaking ahead of the series, Rizwan said, “This is our third successive overseas tour, and it has strengthened our adaptability to local conditions. With the return of experienced players and a blend of youth, we are eager to make our mark in South Africa.”
Rizwan acknowledged the challenges posed by South African conditions but emphasized the advantages for Pakistan’s pace attack.
“The wickets here will test us, but they also provide opportunities for our bowlers. We are motivated to continue the momentum from our recent victories,” he added.
Pakistan recently defeated Zimbabwe in both the ODI and T20I series and secured a 2-1 ODI win against Australia.
South Africa’s Tactical Approach
South Africa’s T20 squad, captained by Heinrich Klaasen, also appears well-prepared, having completed a Test victory against Sri Lanka just days ago.
Despite not fielding a full-strength team, the Proteas are relying on star performers like Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi, who excelled in the recent T20 World Cup.
However, head coach Rob Walter faces pressure due to South Africa’s poor record in bilateral series, with five losses and two draws in their last seven contests. Walter will hope for a strong showing, especially in front of a home crowd.
Pakistan holds a slight edge in their recent T20 encounters, winning the last two bilateral series. They defeated South Africa 2-1 at home in February 2021 and 3-1 away in April 2021.
Matches Schedule
T20 Internationals:
- December 10: First T20I, Durban
- December 13: Second T20I, Centurion
- December 14: Third T20I, Johannesburg
ODIs:
- December 17: First ODI, Paarl
- December 19: Second ODI, Cape Town
- December 22: Third ODI, Johannesburg
Tests:
- December 26-30: First Test, Centurion
- January 3-7: Second Test, Cape Town
