PAK vs SA Preview: Do or die match for Pakistan, has not lost to South Africa in the World Cup for the last 24 years
PAK vs SA Preview: Today Pakistan is facing South Africa in the 26th match of ODI World Cup 2023. This match will be played at Chepauk Stadium, Chennai from 2 pm. The toss will take place half an hour before this i.e. at 1.30 pm. After the hat-trick of defeats, Pakistan has to play a ‘do or die’ match against South Africa to remain in the World Cup because if it loses, not only will the path to knockout be closed, but Babar Azam’s captaincy can also be ruined. Babar, who is facing criticism due to Pakistan’s poor performance, knows what could be the fate of losing in this match. From now on, Pakistan has to win every match and also pray that Australia loses at least two of the remaining four matches.
Difference between land and sky between Pakistan and South Africa
It is said in the cricket world that no one knows what happens to the Pakistan team. One day it looks like a world champion and the next day it may lose to a weak team. It is important for Pakistan to be in form in a tournament like the World Cup and Babar knows that it will take nothing less than a miracle to defeat the tremendously performing South Africa. Even though South Africa was defeated by Netherlands in Dharamsala, there is a world of difference between the two teams. Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen have performed well in batting, who have been well supported by Aiden Markram.
Pakistan batsmen failed to hit fours and sixes
At the same time, Pakistan’s famous batsmen have proved unsuccessful. South African batsmen have so far hit 155 fours and 59 sixes, while Pakistan has been able to hit only 24 sixes and 136 fours in five matches. South Africa’s De Kock, Klaasen, Markram, David Miller and Marco Jansen have had a strike rate above 100, whereas in the Pakistani team, only Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed have had a strike rate close to 100. Shaheen Shah Afridi has been a flop in bowling, while Haris Rauf has also not been able to impress. Pakistan is badly missing Naseem Shah. Hasan Ali is not a suitable bowler for ODIs, hence Zaman Khan or Muhammad Wasim Jr. can be fielded.
Read Also: Pakistani legend hurled mud at Rohit-Virat, considered Babar Azam the best in this matter
The spin department has become the weak link
Pakistan’s weakest link is the lack of a good spinner. Leg spinner Usama Mir failed in both the matches. Shadab Khan also could not perform up to his potential. On the other hand, if South Africa wins, the path to the semi-finals will be paved. De Kock is in great form with the bat and has scored the most runs in the tournament so far. In bowling, Kagiso Rabada, Yansen and Gerald Coetzee have performed well. Keshav Maharaj has taken seven wickets at an economy rate of 4.60. Of the 82 matches played so far between the two teams, South Africa has won 51. At the same time, Pakistan has won 30 matches. One match remained inconclusive.
Pakistan vs South Africa in ODI and T20 World Cup
| Result | World Cup Format | Venue | Year |
| South Africa won by 20 runs | ODI | Brisbane | 1992 |
| South Africa won by 5 wickets | ODI | Karachi | 1996 |
| South Africa won by 3 wickets | ODI | Nottingham | 1999 |
| Pakistan won by 7 runs | T20I | Nottingham | 2009 |
| Pakistan won by 11 runs | T20I | Gros Islet | 2010 |
| Pakistan won by 2 wickets | T20I | Colombo | 2012 |
| Pakistan won by 29 runs | ODI | Auckland | 2015 |
| Pakistan won by 49 runs | ODI | Lords | 2019 |
| Pakistan won by 33 runs | T20I | Sydney | 2022 |
The most important thing is that since the 1999 ODI World Cup, be it the 50-over World Cup or the T20 World Cup, the South African team has not been able to win against Pakistan. That means, for the last 24 years, Pakistan has defeated South Africa in both ODI and T20 World Cup. Since the 1999 World Cup, the two teams have met twice in the ODI World Cup and Pakistan won both. During this period, both of them faced each other four times in the T20 World Cup and Pakistan team won all four times. A total of nine matches have been played between the two teams including ODI and T20 World Cup. Out of these, South Africa has won three and Pakistan has won six matches.
Probable playing-11 of both the teams
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafiq, Imam-ul-Haq/Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf/Mohammad Wasim Jr. .
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Janssen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lizard Williams/Tabariz Shamsi.
Complete information about live streaming
FAQ