PAARL: Pakistan will put their T20 concerns aside and shift focus entirely towards 50-over cricket when they take on South Africa in the opening fixture of the three-match One-day International series at the Boland Park here on Tuesday.

While the Mohammad Rizwan-led side have found themselves left behind in the shortest format against top sides lately — losing 3-0 and 2-0 against Australia and South Africa respectively — they are riding high on confidence when it comes to one-day cricket, having beaten the Australians 2-1 Down Under last month.

The series win against Australia has put Pakistan in the right direction with the ICC Champions Trophy hardly three months away. The matches with South Africa, however, will be Rizwan and co.’s chance to stamp their authority as an in-form one-day side if they go on to win the series.

It will also help Pakistan get closer to their goal of identifying the right combination with their eye on Champions Trophy honours, with the tournament set to be hosted by the country from February 19 to March 9.

Pakistan’s squad has been bolstered with the return of pacer Naseem Shah, opening batter Abdullah Shafique and top-order batter Kamran Ghulam while wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan have received their maiden ODI call-ups.

This will be Rizwan’s third ODI series as skipper of the side as he has started his stint with back-to-back ODI series wins over Australia and Zimbabwe.

In their last bilateral face-off in the 50-over format, Pakistan won the three-match series 2-1 in South Africa in April 2021.

“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 Pakistan Cricket Board statement on Monday.

“We couldn’t get the ideal results in the T20I series but I am really happy with some of the performances put in by our players in these conditions especially Saim’s batting was brilliant in both games.

“Our batting, pace and spin stocks are decent enough to challenge South Africa and win the series with the help of almighty.”

Left-handed opener Saim, as Rizwan said, as shown immense promise with his flamboyant style, scoring 98 not out off 57 balls against South Africa in the second T20I.

Earlier, he had scored 82 and 42 against Australia in the ODI series. Pacer Haris Rauf is also in top form for Pakistan, having finished as the top-wicket taker in the series against Australia.

“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.”

South Africa Temba Bavuma will not play the first ODI as he manages his workload ahead of the following two-Test series. Aiden Markram will captain the team for the ODI opener, with Bavuma set to return later in the series.

The matches are the first and last South Africa will have with their strongest available squad before the Champions Trophy as they look to keep their Test players fresh.

“Not everyone that we’d normally call upon is around because of injuries,” Bavuma said. “We’ve got bowlers within the squad so we’d like to be in a position where we can give guys those opportunities, rest certain guys and give other guys opportunities. We’ll try to balance it out as best as we can.”—Agencies

Squads:

PAKISTAN: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wicket-keeper), 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, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)

SOUTH AFRICA: Temba Bavuma (captain), Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wicket-keeper), Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Marco Jansen, Ottneil Baartman, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2024