Faisalabad is the venue for first of three One Day Internationals between Pakistan and South Africa, the game takes place on Tuesday and we take a look at the squads, recent form and the all important betting
This is a three match series with the second and third contests also staged at this venue on Thursday and Saturday of this week. The two match test series was shared 1-1 and Pakistan won last week’s T20 series 2-1.
Let's start with the ODI squads.
Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
South Africa: Matthew Breetzke (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Lizaad Williams
Pakistan Recent Form
Pakistan's most recent ODI action came in the Caribbean in August where they lost a 3 match series 2-1 to West Indies.
In March / April this year they lost 3-0 in New Zealand and in the Champions Trophy they finished bottom of their pool with 2 defeats and 1 no result.
Pakistan have lost 8 of their last 9 completed ODI’s.
South Africa Recent Form
The Proteas won 2-1 in England in September and they were also 2-1 winners in Australia in August.
They made it to the semi finals of the Champions Trophy early in the year where they lost to New Zealand.
Recent Head to Head
The most recent meeting came in February this year in Karachi, a tri series in preparation for the Champions Trophy and Pakistan won by 6 wickets.
In South Africa in December 2024 Pakistan completed a 3-0 clean sweep.
Overall the teams have met 87 times in this format with Pakistan winning 34 to South Africa’s 53 with 1 no result
The Betting
At the time of writing Pakistan are 6/10 to win and South Africa are 5/4
Prices subject to change
The Verdict
There are some unknown quantities to me in the Pakistan squad so a small interest will suffice.
Dewald Brevis was excellent in the ODI series in Australia earlier this year and a repeat of that showing brings his price to score a 50 onto my radar. In the same market I’ll go with Saim Ayub to do likewise for Pakistan
Bet: Dewald Brevis to score a 50 at 5/2 with Sportingbet
Saim Ayub to score a 50 at 1.95/1 with Pokerbet
