ODI World Cup 2023 PAK vs SA: 4 Changes Pakistan Can Do For Match Against South Africa. In this highly anticipated clash, Pakistan is set to face South Africa in the 26th ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match. The action will unfold at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, scheduled to kick off on 27th Oct from 02:00 PM IST
Securing a place in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-finals is the ultimate goal for Pakistan. To reach this landmark, they must excel in this crucial encounter against South Africa in Chennai. A consistent winning streak in their upcoming matches is also compulsory for their semi-final aspirations.
Pakistan is currently in the 5th position in the tournament, labelled by a mixed bag of outcomes of two wins and three losses. Accomplishing a more consistent track record is important for Pakistan’s semi-final aims. On the other hand, South Africa is in excellent form, sitting in 2nd position with four wins out of five matches. They are rising as strong contenders to win the tournament.
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Key Players for Pakistan
Pakistan’s hopes will heavily depend on their key bowlers, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. Their ability to secure early wickets, especially when the ball is swinging, will be key in containing South Africa’s formidable batting lineup.
Listed below are four potential changes Pakistan might consider for their playing 11 in the forthcoming match against South Africa in the ICC ODI World Cup:
- Replace Suad Shakeel with Mohammad Haris: Shakeel has faced difficulties in the tournament, managing only 61 runs in the last three matches. In contrast, Haris, a hard-hitting batsman, could offer Pakistan the essential middle-order firepower they need.
- Replace Usama Mir with Mohammad Wasim Jr: Usama Mir’s performance in the tournament has been unstable, and he has encountered challenges in finalising his allotted overs. On the other hand, Wasim Jr. is a seasoned bowler who can offer Pakistan incredible bowling control and stability.
- Promote Mohammed Rizwan to one down: Rizwan is a dependable batsman capable of anchoring the innings, and his impressive form throughout the tournament makes him a strong contender for the role.
- Replace Imam-ul-Haq with Fakhar Zaman: While Imam has been performing decently in recent matches, facing South Africa demands a variety of bowling options to contain their prolific run-scorers. Zaman’s versatility as a bowler and his wealth of experience, related to his aggressive batting style, can provide Pakistan with the necessary acceleration in the top order.
Also Read: ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Points Table, Most Runs & Wickets After AUS vs NED Match
PAK vs SA Match Prediction
In the 82 ODI matches between Pakistan and South Africa, South Africa emerged victorious in 51 matches, while Pakistan won 30 games, and one match ended without a result. Evaluating the current season of the ICC tournament, South Africa has been performing extremely well. Hence, there’s a strong possibility that the Proteas will continue to maintain their track record of victories against their Asian rivals in the upcoming match.
However, this match holds immense importance for Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals. They must secure a victory to strengthen their position in the tournament.
Pakistan Full Squad For ICC ODI WC 2023
Mohammad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Ali Agha, Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Hasan Ali.
South Africa Full Squad For ICC ODI WC 2023
Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Andile Phehlukwayo, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lizard Williams.
