Discover the top 3 star players to watch in the thrilling SA vs PAK T20I series 2024. Pakistan faced a tough time in the T20 World Cup 2024, losing two matches in a row against the USA and India, which led to their early exit from the group stage. After this, Babar Azam stepped down as white-ball captain, and Mohammad Rizwan took over as the new leader.
Under Rizwan’s leadership, Pakistan lost 3-0 to Australia in an away series but bounced back to win 2-1 against Zimbabwe. It has been a mixed journey so far, and now Pakistan will face South Africa in a three-match T20I series starting December 10 in Durban.
Playing at home, South Africa will feel confident despite struggling in their series against India. Pakistan often finds it hard to handle the intensity of T20I matches, which is something the hosts will try to take advantage of. Meanwhile, Pakistan will aim to build on their recent win. So, which players can step up and make a difference in this exciting contest? Let’s find out!
3. Mohammad Rizwan
Mohammad Rizwan missed the T20I series against Zimbabwe and didn’t perform well on the Australia tour. However, he is one of the team’s most reliable players, especially in T20 cricket. As captain, he hopes to bounce back and win his first T20I series.
Rizwan has played 104 T20I matches and scored 3,329 runs with a strike rate of 125.71. While his strike rate is a concern, he has the ability to play long innings and finish games. In South Africa, where high scores are expected, Rizwan needs to perform well. Otherwise, his captaincy could face criticism, just like Babar’s did.
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2. Heinrich Klaasen
With Aiden Markram and other Test players missing, Heinrich Klaasen will captain South Africa against Pakistan. Klaasen has been outstanding in T20 cricket and can change the game quickly. He is an aggressive batter and one of the hardest hitters in the world right now.
With senior players absent, Klaasen will face pressure to perform, and he usually does well in such situations. However, his recent form is a bit worrying, and the team management will want him to improve. Facing a weaker Pakistan bowling attack, Klaasen will be hopeful for good performances.
1. Babar Azam
Babar Azam was rested for the last series against Zimbabwe. In the series against Australia, he only scored 47 runs in three matches, and there are concerns about whether he can keep his spot in the team. Early in his career, Babar was seen as the future star of Pakistan cricket, but in recent years, his form has dropped, and he has already been dropped from the Test squad.
At 30 years old, Babar is under pressure to perform and regain his form. He was given a break and will be fresh for the South Africa series. So far, he has played 126 T20I matches, scoring 4192 runs with a strike rate of 129.22. Against South Africa, who are known for their aggressive play, Babar needs to start quickly. If he doesn’t perform, he may lose his place in the playing XI.
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