PAK vs SA: Pakistan aim strong comeback in virtual semi-finals vs a young Proteas

Pakistan vs South Africa—this match has become a virtual semi-final, given how the  results have played out in this tri-series. Starting with South Africa, they have some key selection decisions to make, not just for this game but for the tournament ahead. Their  squad choices have been a bit tricky to follow, as they’ve fielded different teams for  different matches. Some players joined late due to SA20 commitments, while others  were given breaks. 

Matthew Breetzke, for example, played a brilliant knock of 150 recently, but he isn’t part  of the Champions Trophy squad. Instead, Tony de Zorzi is, and he is expected to return  for this match to open alongside Temba Bavuma. South Africa now faces a tough call— how do they factor in Breetzke’s outstanding performance when making their selections  moving forward? 

Will South Africa try to incorporate Breetzke into this game, or will they leave him out  and bring in de Zorzi, who is part of their Champions Trophy squad? 

Their approach so far has been to manage player workloads carefully—resting and  rotating those returning from franchise cricket around the world. This strategy ensures  players are fresh and ready for the Champions Trophy. 

However, for this match and possibly the next, their final XI will be an interesting  decision. Breetzke has made a strong case to retain his spot after his outstanding  performance, but he could still miss out. It will be fascinating to see how they handle this  selection dilemma. 

Heinrich Klaasen and Keshav Maharaj are set to return for the second game after  missing the first. Their inclusion will significantly strengthen the squad, building on an  already solid performance in the first match, even though it ended in defeat. 

However, key players like Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Kagiso  Rabada, David Miller, and Rassie van der Dussen—who form the core of South Africa’s  batting lineup—are not participating in this ODI series. 

These key players will return straight into the squad for the Champions Trophy.  However, the team’s selection process feels somewhat fragmented. 

The rotation makes sense—many players were engaged in franchise cricket and were  unavailable until now. But with their return, South Africa must quickly settle on their best  playing XI. Balancing player management with team stability can be tricky, and efforts to  do right by the players may sometimes complicate selection decisions. For instance,  Breetzke’s impressive performance in the last game has added to the dilemma, making  it harder to finalize the squad.

I’m really eager to see how South Africa lines up for this match. Beyond the selections,  having the right mindset is just as important as physical freshness. 

I fully support their decision to rest senior players to ensure they are in peak condition  for the Champions Trophy, which remains their top priority. Take Kagiso Rabada, for  example—they’ll want him fully fit, well-rested, and ready to deliver at his best. 

When South Africa fields their strongest XI, they have a squad capable of winning the  Champions Trophy, in my opinion.I wouldn’t call them the favorites, but South Africa is  certainly a team that can compete at the highest level. 

As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, their batting lineup has adapted exceptionally  well to the challenges of modern cricket. Among all teams right now, South Africa’s  batters have benefited the most from their IPL experience, particularly in handling  subcontinent conditions and slow, low pitches. 

They are definitely a team to watch, and it will be fascinating to see how they finalize  their playing XI. 

With the match being played in Karachi, conditions are likely to be more batter-friendly.  Karachi generally offers a good batting surface, with a bit more pace, which could  benefit the fast bowlers on both sides. It will be interesting to see how that factor  influences the game. 

For Pakistan, their biggest concern will be how they conceded 98 runs in the last six  overs against New Zealand. With a pace attack featuring Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah  Afridi, and Naseem Shah, that kind of late-innings onslaught was a real setback. 

Credit to New Zealand, especially Glenn Phillips, for taking full advantage, but Pakistan  will need to address this issue. They are usually so effective at varying their pace and  controlling the death overs, but they must rediscover that strength quickly. 

We’ve often highlighted Pakistan’s ability to control the death overs as one of their  strengths, so it will be interesting to see how they respond after that setback. 

I also mentioned Babar Azam’s struggles against spin, and that issue was evident again  in the last match. Pakistan’s batting lineup—particularly those who played in the Test  series—has had a tough time adjusting, as they’ve been facing spin-friendly pitches. In  the previous game, the moment the spinner came on, Babar was dismissed, which  remains a concern for Pakistan. 

Pakistan will want Babar Azam, who is crucial to their batting, to regain his confidence  against spin. His comfort at the crease is vital for the team’s success.

One positive for Pakistan is the return of Mohammad Rizwan, who strengthens the side  significantly. However, I still stand by what I wrote before their first game—they need  more spin options. 

For me, Shadab Khan should definitely be in consideration as a key addition to their  bowling attack. Abrar Ahmed remains Pakistan’s primary spinner, though Khushdil Shah  provides a useful spin option and has done a decent job. However, if the fast bowlers  continue to struggle, Pakistan might find themselves one spinner short. 

From my perspective, this match is a great opportunity for Pakistan to bounce back in  what is essentially a virtual semi-final. A win here would put them in contention to take  the tri-series in the final game. That said, let’s not get ahead of ourselves—Pakistan  needs to focus on this game first. 

South Africa performed well in their last game despite fielding a makeshift squad with  several uncapped players looking to prove themselves. As I mentioned earlier, it will be  fascinating to see how South Africa pieces everything together for this match.  Meanwhile, Pakistan will need to mount a strong comeback.