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Pakistan seek change of fortune against South Africa
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Jan 17, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Pakistan will seek
a change of fortune when they play South Africa in the first of five one-day
internationals at St George’s Park on Saturday.
The tourists were mauled in a recent Test series, with none of the three
matches going beyond lunch on the fourth day, but have reason to be
optimistic in the 50-overs game where fast short-pitched bowling will likely
not be a decisive factor.
For both teams, the series is an important step towards the Cricket World
Cup in England and Wales later this year.
“We’re certainly a far better white-ball team than we are a Test unit at
the minute,” said Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur after the third Test on
Monday.
That seems a reasonable assessment as Pakistan have shown their ability in
one-day cricket, notably when they won the Champions Trophy in England in
2017. Since the start of that tournament, during which they beat South Africa
in a rain-shortened match, they have compiled a 17-10 winning record.
Pakistan’s batting will be strengthened by the inclusion of Mohammad
Hafeez, who retired from Test cricket at the end of last year, and Shoaib
Malik, while they have a capable attack in which spinners Shadab Khan and
Imad Wasim could play key roles.
Fakhar Zaman, the aggressive left-handed opening batsman, was exposed
against the short ball in the Tests, being dropped after scoring only 32 runs
in four innings, but has hit 1275 runs at an average of 57.95 in one-day
internationals, scored at close to a run a ball.
South Africa have based their World Cup plans on picking four specialist
bowlers but have yet to settle on a batting all-rounder to fill the crucial
number seven position.
They announced a squad for the first two matches only. Since the squad was
announced, it was decided to rest wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock and
fast bowler Dale Steyn.
The changes provide opening batsman Aiden Markram with another opportunity
to shine in a format in which he has yet to assert himself, while fast bowler
Duanne Olivier was rewarded for his man of the series performances in the
Tests with a first one-day call-up.
Port Elizabeth usually has one of the slowest pitches in South Africa,
which should suit the tourists. In their most recent appearance at the
ground, in November 2013, they clinched their only one-day series win in
South Africa.
Squads
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks, Imran
Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Aiden Markram, David Miller, Duanne Olivier,
Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz
Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wkt), Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar
Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Amir,
Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan (wkt), Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan
Masood, Shoaib Malik, Usman Khan
Fixtures
January 19, Port Elizabeth
January 22, Durban
January 25, Centurion
January 27, Johannesburg
January 30, Cape Town
BSS/AFP/BZC/1850HRS