PAK vs SA 1st T20I preview: Hosts hope to hold Test type in opposition to Proteas

Pakistan goals to capitalize on its 2-0 victory within the Test sequence in opposition to South Africa when it takes on the Proteas within the three-match Twenty20 sequence that begins on Thursday.
“The result of test series will have an impact on the Twenty20 series,” Pakistan bowling coach Waqar Younis instructed reporters throughout a digital press convention in Lahore on Wednesday.
“I can’t predict the ultimate result of the T20 series, but you will definitely see good results.”
Pakistan beat South Africa in a check sequence for the primary time in 18 years with two emphatic victories at Karachi and Rawalpindi. Fast bowler Hasan Ali grabbed a 10-wicket haul in Pakistan’s 95-run win within the second check because the Proteas misplaced their final seven wickets for less than 33 runs within the second innings and have been bowled out for 274.
Waqar was the bowling coach when a second-string Sri Lanka routed Pakistan 3-0 at Lahore in 2019. The outcome noticed Sarfaraz Ahmed being stripped of the captaincy and Babar Azam was chosen because the white-ball skipper earlier than ultimately being named as all format captain after Pakistan misplaced the check sequence in England final yr.
This time round, Waqar shouldn’t be underestimating the second-string South Africa with out its T20 regulars — captain Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi.
They have been all a part of the Proteas’ check squad in Pakistan however flew dwelling as South Africa deliberate to organize for the three-test sequence in opposition to Australia, which was postponed.
The South Africa Twenty20 squad was en path to Pakistan when Australia pulled out of the sequence and ultimately it was too late for the Proteas to maintain among the members of check squad in Pakistan.
Hasan, who returned to worldwide cricket within the check sequence in opposition to South Africa after two years attributable to accidents, is a part of Pakistan’s Twenty20 squad with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf to provide Pakistan a formidable tempo assault.
Pakistan needed to miss Mohammad Hafeez after he couldn’t be part of the group’s bio-secure bubble in Lahore by the Feb. 3 deadline.
Hafeez scored 415 runs in T20 internationals final yr, however was busy taking part in in a T10 League within the United Arab Emirates and it left selectors with no selection apart from to go away out essentially the most skilled participant for the house sequence.Legspinner Usman Qadir, who was named man of the sequence in Pakistan’s dwelling Twenty20 sequence in opposition to Zimbabwe final yr, and uncapped leggie Zahid Mahmood are Pakistan’s sluggish bowling choices.
South Africa, led by Heinrich Klaasen, has solely David Miller in its lineup with some expertise of taking part in in Pakistan. Miller toured Pakistan in 2017 with a World XI aspect which performed three-match Twenty20 sequence with du Plessis as its skipper.

Hello Gaddafi Stadium!The #Proteas’ T20 squad is urgent the accelerator on preparation for the 3-match T20 sequence beginning this Thursday. #SeeUsOnThePitch stay on SuperSport 12 & SuperSport Grandstand. #PAKvSA🇵🇰 🏏🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/eLwGpIyBfo
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) February 9, 2021
There are three uncapped gamers quick bowler Okuhle Cele, wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Rickelton and batsman Jacques Snyman as South Africa look to type a pool of gamers earlier than the Twenty20 World Cup later this yr.
“We are by no means a second-string T20 squad and we are looking to win,” Klaasen had mentioned on Tuesday. “South Africa has got loads of talent, which people sometimes don’t see because we only have six franchises.”
Squads:
Pakistan (from): Babar Azam, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Hussain Talat, Danish Aziz, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Zafar Gohar, Faheem Ashraf, Aamer Yamin, Amad Butt, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Hasan Ali, Usman Qadir, Zahid Mehmood
South Africa (from): Heinrich Klaasen, Nandre Burger, Okuhle Cele, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Jon-Jon Smuts, Pite van Biljon, Glenton Stuurman, Jacques Snyman