Paarl (Web Desk): South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first in the opening one-day international (ODI) of the three-match series against Pakistan at Boland Park in Paarl.
The decision to set a total was made with confidence, as the pitch appeared to offer good batting conditions early on.
Pakistan has fielded a strong squad for the match, headlined by the return of fast bowler Naseem Shah, who joins a pace attack led by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
The opening pair of Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique will be looking to get Pakistan off to a solid start, with both batsmen keen to make their mark on the international stage.
This series also marks an important milestone for Mohammad Rizwan, who is captaining the side for the third time in ODIs. Under his leadership, Pakistan has seen significant success, including a historic 2-1 victory over Australia in November — their first series win in Australia in over two decades.
Rizwan’s leadership continued to shine in the 2-1 win over Zimbabwe, but the team has had a tough start to their tour of South Africa, having lost the T20I series 2-0. With the pressure mounting, the ODI series provides Pakistan with a chance to turn things around.
On the South African side, Temba Bavuma is resting for this first game, with Aiden Markram stepping in as captain. Bavuma’s absence is part of a broader strategy to manage player workloads ahead of an intense schedule, with a crucial Test series looming in the coming weeks. Bavuma is expected to return for the second ODI, but his absence in this opening match emphasizes South Africa’s careful approach to balancing their players’ fitness, particularly with major tournaments like the 2025 Champions Trophy on the horizon.
As the two teams take the field, it’s clear that both sides are under pressure to perform, with South Africa looking to bounce back from their T20I series defeat and Pakistan hoping to build on their previous successes under Rizwan's leadership.
The match promises to be a thrilling contest with plenty at stake for both teams.
Teams
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (C/WK), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram(C), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen(wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Ottneil Baartman, Tabraiz Shamsi
