Pakistan make two changes as playing XI announced for South Africa fixture

KARACHI: Pakistan have made two changes to their playing XI for the upcoming fixture against South Africa in the ongoing Tri-Nation Series, scheduled to be played at the National Stadium Karachi on Wednesday.

Left-handed batter Saud Shakeel has been included in the squad, replacing Kamran Ghulam, who has been struggling with the bat in recent matches.

The lineup also marks the return of pacer Mohammad Hasnain, replacing Haris Rauf — who sustained a muscular sprain in the lower chest and as a ‘precautionary measure’, was rested for the upcoming matches.

Notably, the extent of the injury is not serious and the right-arm speedster is likely to fully recover for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, set to be hosted by Pakistan from February 19 to March 9.

It is pertinent to mention that New Zealand booked their place in the tri-nation series finals after defeating South Africa and Pakistan.

The match between Proteas and Men in Green will be a virtual semi-final, and the winner will advance to the finals.

In their first encounter of the tri-series, the home side were outclassed by a masterful Glenn Phillips and a combined bowling effort by the New Zealand bowlers and thus succumbed to a gruelling 78-run defeat.

Chasing a daunting 331-run target, the home side only managed 254 before getting bowled out in 47.5 overs despite Fakhar Zaman’s gutsy half-century. Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry bagged three wickets for New Zealand, while Bracewell picked up two.

Later, New Zealand also secured a convincing six-wicket victory over South Africa and qualified for the tri-series final.

Chasing a 305-run target, the Blackcaps comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of four wickets and eight balls to spare, thanks to an anchoring second-wicket partnership between Williamson and Devon Conway.

Pakistan’s playing XI: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed.