ISLAMABAD: All eyes will be at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today, Friday, as a mercurial Pakistani side takes on an in-form South Africa for yet another important cricket World Cup contest.
Babar Azam’s side heads into the match with history on their side as the last time South Africa beat Pakistan in a World Cup contest was in 1999. The Proteas, dubbed as “chokers” for falling short in major cricket tournaments, are in fine form heading into the match.
Apart from losing to minnows Netherlands in one of the most shocking upsets of this year’s World Cup, South Africa are placed at number two with four wins from five matches.
The same cannot be said for Pakistan, who slumped to number six after getting routed by Afghanistan earlier this week. Azam’s side needs to win every match left in the World Cup to have a strong chance of qualifying for the semi-final stages.
However, their aspirations to play well against South Africa were dealt a blow when fast bowler Hasan Ali was ruled out of the match a day before the contest.
“Fast bowler Hasan Ali is unavailable for Pakistan's match against South Africa as he is unwell,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.
“Hasan suffered a fever last night, but he is recovering well. He will be given rest to recover fully ahead of the remaining games.”
The 1992 World Cup champions will be wary of their poor form in the bowling and fielding departments. Pakistan, whose pace attack inspired fear into almost every batting unit around the world prior to the Asia Cup, have been lacking form of late.
An injury to pacer Naseem Shah before the World Cup tournament proved to be a severe blow for Pakistan’s bowlers. Without ample support from the other end, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi have fared rather poorly in this World Cup.
Pakistan’s Team Director Mickey Arthur said on Thursday that if the team utilizes its skills wholeheartedly, it can beat any side in the world.
“Our perfect game is good enough to beat anybody,” Arthur told reporters. “We have to find it because there is a massive ambition within the playing group.”
South Africa skipper Tenda Bavuma said he was wary of the South Asian side’s temperament and knew they could be dangerous on any given day.
“I saw a comment that described Pakistan as mercurial,” Bavuma said on the eve of the game. “I had to Google the word, but it spoke about how a team can be good one day and not so good the next.
“So, we want to make sure that when they’re good, we are so good as well.”
SQUADS
Pakistan: (likely) 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq/Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Iftikhar Ahmed, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Usama Mir, 9 Mohammad Wasim Jnr, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Haris Rauf
South Africa: (likely) 1 Temba Bavuma (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Tabraiz Shamsi, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi Ngidi/Lizaad Williams
