NEW DELHI: South Africa’s cricket team is currently engaged in multiple formats simultaneously. While the Test team was playing against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha, a separate group of players was preparing for an upcoming Twenty20 series against Pakistan in Pretoria.
The T20 squad, led by Heinrich Klaasen, has now travelled to Durban for the first T20 international scheduled for Tuesday, the day after the conclusion of the Test match.
This marks the beginning of six white-ball matches – three T20 internationals and three one-day internationals – that Pakistan will play before facing South Africa in two Test matches.
Only Ryan Rickelton from the current South African Test team is set to feature in the T20 series, although regular white-ball captain Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Kagiso Rabada, and Marco Jansen would likely be included in a full-strength team.
Pakistan, too, will make multiple changes between formats, with only white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha expected to play in all three series.
South African white-ball coach Rob Walter has called up fast bowler Anrich Nortje and left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi for the T20 series, despite their decision to opt out of national contracts to play in franchise tournaments worldwide.
Despite South Africa’s successful T20 World Cup campaign, Walter faces pressure due to the team’s poor record in bilateral series.
Pakistan, on the other hand, are coming off a successful white-ball tour of Zimbabwe, where they won both the one-day and T20 series, and a one-day series victory against Australia.
South Africa vs Pakistan squads
South Africa Squad: Heinrich Klaasen (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Simelane, Rassie van der Dussen
Pakistan Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.
