ICC World Cup: Pakistan opt to bat in must-win match against South Africa

TOI Sports Desk / Oct 27, 2023, 14:24 IST

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Pakistan have had a tough run, losing their last three matches following their initial two wins. Meanwhile, South Africa are in a strong position with four wins in five games. For South Africa, captain Temba Bavuma returned to the lineup after missing the last two games due to a gastric problem.

ICC World Cup: Pakistan opt to bat in must-win match against South Africa

Reuters Photo

In their World Cup match against South Africa in Chennai on Friday, Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and chose to bat first.
LIVE UPDATES
Pakistan have had a tough run, losing their last three matches following their initial two wins. Meanwhile, South Africa are in a strong position with four wins in five games.
In team news, Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali was unavailable due to illness, with Mohammad Wasim stepped in as his replacement, and spinner Mohammad Nawaz came in for Usama Mir in a like-for-like substitution.

For South Africa, captain Temba Bavuma returned to the lineup after missing the last two games due to a gastric problem. Opener Reeza Hendricks was omitted in one of three changes to the team that had defeated Bangladesh by 149 runs in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Kagiso Rabada, who is nursing a back injury, and Lizaad Williams were replaced by leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and fast bowler Lungi Ngidi.
PLAYING XIs
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi

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