PAK vs SA: 1st T20I, Match Prediction – Who will win today’s match?

South Africa got a pasting from Pakistan in the two-match Test series. Both games in Karachi and Rawalpindi turned out to be pretty much one-sided as the hosts raced away to a 2-0 series win. It’s now time for the three-match T20I series, which is set to get underway on Thursday, February 11.

All the matches will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Prior to the series, the Proteas named a squad, resting their Test players, who were set to take part in the series against Australia that stands cancelled. Pakistan would want to make amends after their 1-2 loss to New Zealand.

Pitch and Conditions

The pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium is an excellent one for batting. In 11 T20Is, the average score at the venue is over 160. Since the track isn’t expected to change much, chasing should be the way forward. The temperature will be around 21 degrees Celsius-mark with the humidity mostly in the 40s.

Playing Combinations for PAK vs SA

Pakistan

Predicted XI

Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Qadir

Bench: Hussain Talat, Amad Butt, Danish Aziz, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Aamer Yamin, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Zahid Mahmood, Zafar Gohar

South Africa

Predicted XI

Reeza Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Heinrich Klaasen (C), Pite van Biljon (wk), David Miller, George Linde, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Junior Dala/Lutho Sipamla, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla

Bench: Jacques Synman, Ryan Rickelton, Nandre Burger, Okuhle Cele, JJ Smuts, Lutho Sipamla/Junior Dala

Probable Top Performers

Babar Azam- Pakistan

Babar Azam didn’t play in the T20I series against New Zealand due to an injury. He has returned and would be raring to go out and weave magic. In 44 T20Is, the youngster nearly has 1,700 runs at an average of 50.93. He is likely to open the batting and the Proteas would want to see his back at the earliest.

Heinrich Klaasen- South Africa

Heinrich Klaasen made his T20I debut back in 2018, but he hasn’t quite been able to cement his place in the national team. In 13 T20Is, the right-hander has notched 271 runs with a top score of 69. This time around, apart from showing his prowess with the bat, he has to step up as the captain as well.

PAK vs SA Broadcast Details

Match Timings: 04:00 PM IST

Live Streaming: FanCode

The prediction is for Pakistan to win the match.