South Africa win toss, bat first against Pakistan in first ODI

PAARL: South Africa have won the toss and opted to bat first in the first ODI of the three-match series against Pakistan here at Boland Park here on Tuesday.

Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub will open the innings for Pakistan, while star batter Babar Azam, who rested during the ODI series against Zimbabwe, has returned to his usual number three spot.

Skipper Mohammad Rizwan, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha and Muhammad Irfan Khan will follow in the subsequent batting positions.

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Abrar Ahmed, who made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe last month, has been selected as the sole spinner in the Playing XI, while Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf will form the pace attack of Pakistan in the series-opener against South Africa.

It’s worth noting that South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma is set to miss the first ODI and Aiden Markram will lead the team in his absence.

Bavuma has been rested to manage his workload ahead of the crucial two-match Test series against Pakistan. However, he is likely to feature in the next two ODIs.

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It’s worth noting that after the series opener today, Pakistan and South Africa will play subsequent ODIs in Cape Town and Johannesburg on December 19 and 22 respectively.

Meanwhile, the two-match Test series will kick off in Centurion on December 26, followed by the second Test in Cape Town, starting from January 3.

Pakistan Playing XI: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf

South Africa Playing XI: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Ottneil Baartman, Tabraiz Shamsi

READ: Babar Azam eyes major milestones during South Africa ODIs