World Cup 2023, PAK vs SA: Pakistan Opt To Bat in Must-Win Clash Vs Rampant Proteas

Chennai: Pakistan must win all its remaining matches and hope for Australia to stumble in at least two of their games to stay alive in the tournament. They need to bring their A-game against a strong South African side.

South Africa has been in better form, despite an upset loss to the Netherlands. They have a significant gap in boundary-hitting, with 155 fours and 59 sixes compared to Pakistan’s 24 sixes and 136 boundaries in five games.

In bowling, Pakistan has faced challenges with Shaheen Shah Afridi’s consistency and Haris Rauf’s effectiveness in 50-over cricket. Hasan Ali’s lack of penetration has been a concern.

South Africa is in a comfortable position, with a must-win scenario for Pakistan in every upcoming game. South Africa’s top-order batsman, de Kock, has been outstanding, leading the run charts in the tournament. Their pace bowlers, including Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, have been impressive.

In head-to-head matches, South Africa holds a 51-30 advantage over Pakistan in 82 encounters. A victory for South Africa would bolster their chances of reaching the semi-finals. Pakistan faces a tough challenge to revive their campaign and keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Playing XIs

South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf