After the culmination of the T20 series, both Pakistan and South Africa will lock horns against each other in a three-match ODI series.
Recently, South Africa announced their squad for the upcoming ODI series and they have named quite a strong group of players from the option. This series will be the last they will play with a full-strength squad before the Champions Trophy 2025.
Although the side will play a tri-series in Pakistan, which also includes New Zealand, it will be too close to the conclusion of the SA20, so probably the main players won’t be available for the series.
Kagiso Rabada, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi mark their comebacks in the squad. Rabada, Klaasen, Miller, and Maharaj did not feature in the last ODI series against Ireland, while Shamsi will play an ODI after a gap of a year.
“The bowling line-up features one of the fastest in the game in KG, and this series offers another great opportunity for a young talent like Kwena to come in and learn first-hand from the best,” Rob Walter, South Africa’s white-ball coach, said.
“In the batting department, we are thrilled to welcome back David and Heinrich, two of the most destructive players in the game. Overall, we are very pleased with this squad.”
18-year-old Kwena Maphaka is the only uncapped player in the ODI squad. The pacer was impressive in the under-19 T20 and ODI World Cup. He also showed promise in the first T20 against Pakistan bowling up to 152 KPH.
Nevertheless, due to various injuries, the following players were ruled out of selection: Anrich Nortje (broken toe), Lungi Ngidi (hip injury), Gerald Coetzee (groin injury), Wiaan Mulder (broken finger), and Nandre Burger (lower back stress fracture).
Temba Bavuma will return as the captain as he was injured during the Ireland series. The right-handed batter was on song against Sri Lanka in a Test match series and will look to replicate his heroics against Pakistan as well.
Andile Phehlukwayo and Marco Jansen will serve as pace-allrounders while Maharaj and Shamsi will hold up the spin department. Rabada will lead the pace attack and Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Klaasen, and Miller will provide Africa with an experienced and strong batting lineup.
The ODI series will kick-start on the 17th of December. Pakistan had already announced their squad in this regard. After the ODI series, both of the teams will feature in the longest format of the game too.
South Africa vs Pakistan ODI series
Dec 17 – 1st ODI, Paarl
Dec 19 – 2nd ODI, Cape Town
Dec 22 – 3rd ODI, Johannesburg
South Africa squad for ODI series against Pakistan
Temba Bavuma (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen
Pakistan squad for ODI series against South Africa:
Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)
