Team news
Exciting young South African batsman Dewald Brevis will miss the series after injuring his shoulder during the T20I matches. He remains with the squad and is expected to be fit for the upcoming series in India.
South Africa have fielded a noticeably under-strength side, with key players including Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen all absent. The team handed out three ODI debuts in Tuesday’s opener.
On the Pakistan side, Salman Agha brings a unique record to the series, having played 35 ODI innings without ever being dismissed for a duck. Meanwhile, Babar Azam is the highest-ranked batter in this series, currently fourth in the world. His ODI average of 53.82 is the sixth highest of all time.
Form guide (most recent game first)
Pakistan: W, L, L, W, L
South Africa: L, L, W, W, L
Key players
Pakistan – Mohammad Rizwan: The former captain can now play without the burden of leadership, and his numbers reflect his consistency. He averages 40.70 overall, but his record against South Africa and in home conditions is even stronger. Rizwan scored 55 from 74 balls in the series opener, showing he is in good touch.
South Africa – Lhuan-dre Pretorius: Alongside Brevis, Pretorius is one of the most exciting young talents in South African cricket. Making his ODI debut on Tuesday, he impressed with a brisk 57 from 60 balls. A powerful hitter who likes to take the attack to the bowlers, he could form a dangerous opening partnership with Quinton de Kock if they get going together.
Venue: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
All three ODIs in the series will be played at Iqbal Stadium. The ground had not hosted an ODI since April 2008, when Pakistan beat Bangladesh by seven wickets.
Pakistan have a strong record at the venue, winning 10 of their 13 matches here for a win rate of over 75 percent. South Africa have played six ODIs at the stadium, winning two and losing four. Notably, no ODI at Iqbal Stadium has ever been abandoned or ended as a No Result.
Historically, the toss-winning captain tends to bat first, doing so in 11 of 16 games at the ground up until 2008. However, Pakistan opted to field first in Tuesday’s opener. Across 17 ODIs at Faisalabad, eight have been won by teams batting first and nine by those chasing.
The average first innings score at the ground is 230. Pakistan’s highest total is 314/7 from 50 overs against New Zealand in 2003, while the lowest score is 151 all out by West Indies in 2006. The highest successful chase is Pakistan’s 264/8 in 49.4 overs, achieved against South Africa in the series opener.
Weather
Thursday’s weather in Faisalabad looks ideal for cricket. Clear skies are expected, with a high of 26°C and an evening low of 14°C. Humidity will hover around 38 percent, with a gentle northwesterly wind. There is no chance of rain.
Verdict: South Africa
The Proteas have shown flashes of quality in white-ball cricket but are yet to fully gel as a team. Despite missing several senior players, this is no excuse. With a must-win game on Thursday, South Africa have the talent to turn things around. Winning the toss and taking control from the start will be key if they are to keep the series alive.