SA vs PAK 1st ODI Preview: Key Players And Stats, Live Streaming, Pitch Report, Probable XIs

South Africa to host Pakistan in 3-game ODI series from December 17 [Source: @ProteasMen/X.com]

After clinching the T20I series, South Africa will host Pakistan in a three-game ODI series. The opening contest is scheduled on December 17 at the Boland Park in Paarl from 5.30 PM IST.

SA vs PAK: Match Details And Live Streaming

SA vs PAK: South Africa's home domination likely to extend

South Africa's dominance in home condition was unshakable as they beat Pakistan in back-to-back T20Is to seal a 2-0 series victory, and the last game was abandoned due to rain. The Proteas will be led by Temba Bavuma for the ODI series. He is coming off a successful Test series against Sri Lanka and is in-form. 

Top pacers like Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Andile Phehlukwayo have also made a comeback. 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka is a notable inclusion after his heroics in the T20I series. Overall, the South African squad looks well-balanced and strong, especially as the top players are in splendid form.

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SA vs PAK: Pakistan need to find the right combination

Pakistan's problems lie within their batting lineup. In the T20I series defeat, the top order went down without a fight on shambolic scores. Babar Azam's form remained a massive concern even after he was promoted to his desired slot at the open. Mohammad Rizwan's strike rate has also been unsatisfactory. 

On top of that, the fast bowlers struggled to hold runs in the T20I series. Haris Rauf's economy soared over 10, with Shaheen Afridi left stranded on one end. Overall, the team combination has been a mess. Rizwan, the new captain, hasn't succeeded in holding the team together, and it's hurting Pakistan in its quest to rebuild Pakistan cricket into a formidable force.

SA vs PAK: Boland Park Pitch Report

Boland Park will likely offer a slower wicket, which generally favours spinners and bowlers who rely on variations. The pitch tends to offer moderate bounce, making shot-making slightly challenging. 

Chasing on this surface can be tricky as the pitch tends to slow down further under lights, bringing spinners and cutters into play. Teams winning the toss might prefer batting first to post a competitive total and leverage the conditions in the second innings. Scores around 250-270 are often competitive at this venue.

SA vs PAK: Key Players And Stats

• Tony de Zorzi: 308 runs in 7 games; Average: 51.33; SR: 91.12
• Saim Ayub: 280 runs in 5 games; Average: 56; SR: 114.75
• Haris Rauf: 21 wickets in last 10 games; Economy: 5.78
• Andile Phehlukwayo: 6 wickets in last 5 games; Economy: 5.11
• Shaheen Shah Afridi: 16 wickets in last 7 games; Economy: 5.03

SA vs PAK: Probable Playing XIs

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Andile Phehlukwayo, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Ottneil Baartman, Kagiso Rabada

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Abdullah Shafique, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed

SA vs PAK: Winner Prediction

South Africa's squad looks far more competitive and balanced compared to Pakistan. Hence, the Proteas are more likely to clinch the 1st ODI.

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