Pakistan v South Africa T20s: All you need to know

The Cricketer provides all the information you need ahead of the three-match T20 series between Pakistan and South Africa

What is it?

A three-match T20 series between Pakistan and South Africa.

What’s the schedule?

First T20: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (Thursday, February 11th – 10:30am GMT, 15:30pm local time)

Second T20: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (Saturday, February 13th – 10:30am GMT, 15:30pm local time)

Third T20: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (Sunday, February 14th – 10:30am GMT, 15:30pm local time)

What are Pakistan’s chances?

Pakistan enter this three-match T20 series hoping to turn their white-ball form around. When they last faced South Africa in February 2019, Pakistan were the number one ranked side in the world and had won 11 consecutive series. Since losing 2-1 in South Africa, they have won just two series and slipped to fourth in the rankings.  

However, in 2020 Pakistan won seven of their eleven matches, claiming series victories against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe and drawing 1-1 with England away from home. Furthermore, on home soil Pakistan have lost just four times in 18 matches.

Another boost is the return of captain Babar Azam who missed the 2-1 defeat in New Zealand with a broken thumb. Azam is currently ranked second in the ICC T20 batting rankings and averages 50.93 in 44 T20 internationals. Hasan Ali, Asif Ali and Aamer Yamin have also been recalled while Haris Rauf (five wickets at 9.33), Faheem Ashraf (four wickets at 5.51) and Mohammad Rizwan (128 runs at 42.66) showed good form in New Zealand.

^{Babar Azam returns to captain Pakistan after missing the New Zealand tour through injury}

However, the squad also includes four uncapped players – Zafar Gohar, Zahid Mahmood (both bowlers), Danish Aziz and Amad Butt (all-rounders) – as several big international names miss out.

Star batsman Mohammad Hafeez has been excluded after failing to come to an agreement with the PCB about his entry to the bio-bubble. Hafeez scored 140 runs for Pakistan in New Zealand but, due to playing in the Global T10 in the UAE, couldn’t enter the bubble with the rest of the squad on February 3.

Wahab Riaz and Fakhar Zaman have been dropped after a string of inconsistent performances, while Imad Wasim (personal reasons) and Shadab Khan (injury) are also unavailable.  

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Aamer Yamin, Amad Butt, Asif Ali, Danish Aziz, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Qadir, Zafar Gohar, Zahid Mahmood

How about South Africa?

South Africa head into the series one place behind Pakistan in fifth in the ICC rankings and, like their hosts, will be hoping to arrest a run of poor form. South Africa are without a series win since March 2019 (Sri Lanka) and have won just three of their last eleven T20 international matches. Most recently, they suffered a 3-0 whitewash on home soil against England last November.

In South Africa’s favour, they have the head to head advantage over Pakistan, narrowly leading 8-6, and have a good record in Asia, winning 18 of their 28 matches. However, it will be a tough ask to win in Pakistan on this occasion owing to their inexperienced travelling party.

With the now-postponed Test series against Australia in mind, the Proteas planned to send many players from their red-ball squad back to South Africa to satisfy the country’s quarantine protocol. And, although that series has since been cancelled, South Africa have made no changes to their white-ball squad and will still send T20 captain, Quinton de Kock, and ICC fifth-ranked batsman, Rassie van der Dussen, home.

The 18-man squad, which entered the bio-bubble on February 3, has a combined 219 T20 caps, 78 of which belong to veteran batsman David Miller. Rebuilding their squad after a number of high-profile retirements, maiden call-ups were handed out to three players (Okuhle Cele, Ryan Rickelton and Jacques Snyman) while Nandre Burger and Glenton Stuurman are yet to make their debut.

^{Rassie van der Dussen (L) and Quinton de Kock (R) are missing the T20 series against Pakistan}

Miller, Reeza Hendricks, Andile Phehlukwayo and star spinner Tabraiz Shamsi are the only players with more than 20 caps while wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen captains the side in de Kock’s absence.

Although neither side will field a full-strength XI, with players like Azam, Ashraf and Rizwan at their disposal, Pakistan have the edge.

South Africa squad: Heinrich Klaasen (c), Nandre Burger, Okuhle Cele, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Jon-Jon Smuts, Pite van Biljon, Glenton Stuurman, Jacques Snyman

What’s the weather looking like?

With no rain forecast between now and the final T20 on February 14, the pitch in Lahore should be dry. Conditions for all three matches are set to be still with mid-afternoon temperatures hovering around 25^oC before cooling to around 18^oC in the evenings.

Where can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK can watch all three matches on Sky Sports Cricket or Sky Sports Main Event.

In Pakistan, PTV Sports have the rights while in South Africa and the sub-Saharan region coverage will be provided by the Supersport Network. Fans can also stream the series online on the PTV website.

Elsewhere in the world, Sony Pictures Network will be showing the series in India while Sky Sport provide coverage in New Zealand.

Willow TV have the rights in Canada and the United States. Flow Sports is the place to go in the Caribbean.

Broadcasters in Australia and the Middle East are still to be confirmed.