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ToggleAfter completing the competitive two-match Test series, the hosts Pakistan and the visitors South Africa will now take on each other in the three-match T20I series. The first T20I of this series will begin on Thursday (11th February), while Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore) will host this T20I.
Pakistan just won the two-match Test series against South Africa by the 2-0 margin. Now, both teams are getting ready to give their best effort in this T20I series.
Pakistan vs South Africa 2021, 1st T20I: Match Preview
Pakistan
After clean sweeping South Africa in the Test series, the hosts Pakistan have huge confidence ahead of the upcoming T20I series. Pakistan are always known as a strong competitive in T20I cricket, but they now have to prove once again at home.
While Pakistan have the uncapped players left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar, all-rounder Danish Aziz, leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood and bowling all-rounder Amad Butt, they have recalled Hasan Ali, Asif Ali and Aamer Yamin in the T20I squad. Pacer Hasan Ali just impressed with his bowling performance in the Rawalpindi Test where he claimed his maiden 10-wicket haul in Test career with the help of two five-wicket hauls and won the Player of the Match award in that Test.
Wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan is currently in an excellent form with the bat as he won the Player of the Series award at the end of the Test series against South Africa. While Pakistan played their last T20I against the hosts New Zealand at Napier, Rizwan won the Player of the Match award for his match-winning knock of 89 runs. Faheem Ashraf is also in good form and the all-rounder can again play a crucial role in the T20I series.
But Pakistan will miss the experienced player Mohammad Hafeez, who was in top form in T20 cricket with the bat in the last year. Even in the T20I series in New Zealand, he was the second most run-scorer in that series. So, captain Babar Azam, the no.2-ranked T20I batsman, will have to take extra responsibility in this T20I series.
Full Squad
Babar Azam (C), Aamer Yamin, Amad Butt, Asif Ali, Danish Aziz, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Qadir, Zafar Gohar, Zahid Mehmood
Forms in the last 3 matches (Oldest to latest): Lost, Lost and Won
South Africa
The visitors South Africa always had the chance to dominate in the recently concluded Test series against the hosts Pakistan as they had some good momentum, but they always failed to utilise those opportunities. In the T20I series, South Africa will try their best to not repeat the same mistakes.
Heinrich Klaasen, who has played 13 T20Is, is ready to lead the South African national cricket team for the first time as he will lead in this complete T20I series. The visitors South Africa have a huge task for the T20I series as it is a very new looking team.
Okuhle Cele, Ryan Rickleton, Nandre Burger and Jacques Snyman have earned the maiden national team call-ups in this T20I side while Glenton Stuurman has returned to the national side after recovering from left quadriceps muscle strain.
While it is the year of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, South Africa team management is searching some good talents, who can make the T20 squad stronger during the T20 World Cup.
Full Squad
Heinrich Klaasen (C), 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, Pite van Biljon, Glenton Stuurman, Jacques Snyman
Forms in the last 3 matches (Oldest to latest): Lost, Lost and Lost
Pakistan vs South Africa 2021, 1st T20I: Match Prediction
Though both teams are going through some experiments in this T20I series, the hosts Pakistan are still strong due to having better names in the squad. So, Pakistan are favourite for this T20I series opener. However, South Africa have very lesser pressure under their newly-appointed T20I captain.