After the initial rounds of the World Cup, both South Africa and Pakistan found themselves on a similar trajectory. Each team started with two impressive victories but then suffered a crucial loss that threatened to derail their campaigns. South Africa was defeated by the Netherlands, a team that could claim the 10th spot in the league stages. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s loss to arch-rivals India was so one-sided that it triggered a severe backlash back home.
Fast forward ten days, and only one of these teams has managed to bounce back from those defeats. Pakistan’s fortunes have taken a complete turn for the worse, with two additional losses leaving their campaign hanging by a thread. The most recent loss against Afghanistan stings even more. As Shadab Khan emphasized just 24 hours before the game, “everything will cover up” if Pakistan can string together a series of wins. Their quest for a revival must begin on Friday, October 27.
The Pakistan side that won the tournament in 1992 managed to secure five consecutive victories when their campaign was teetering on the brink. Achieving a similar feat in 2023 could potentially lead Pakistan to the semifinals, but it’s no easy task, especially when their first of those four opponents is South Africa. South Africa has already posted scores of 400+, 399, 382, and 300+ in five games, showcasing the firepower of their batting lineup. For Pakistan’s out-of-form pace attack to contain them is indeed a challenging endeavor.
Pakistan’s best hope might lie in the pitch conditions. While their spin attack doesn’t exude a lot of confidence, a typical Chepauk wicket is what the Asian side would hope for to restrain South Africa’s middle order. South Africa, coming into this game after two successive matches at the Wankhede, might face a tricky challenge in adapting. If they can seamlessly adjust, they will aim to compound Pakistan’s woes.
Match Details:
- Match: Pakistan vs. South Africa
- Date: October 27
- Time: 14:00 IST
- Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Match Expectations: This will be the final game in Chennai in this year’s World Cup. While the pitch has offered turn, the pacers have also found success so far. In four games, the chasing team has emerged victorious three times.
Team Lineups:
Pakistan Imam-ul-Haq and Haris Rauf may face scrutiny despite Imam’s 70-run performance in the loss against Australia. With Pakistan in desperate need of a win, replacing these two players with Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Wasim Jr is a possibility.
Probable XI: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq/Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf/Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Tactics & Strategy: One player Pakistan can target with spin, apart from the formidable de Kock, is Rassie van der Dussen. Although he has a strong record against spin in ODIs, he has fallen five times to spinners in this World Cup.
Shaheen Afridi will shoulder the burden at the death against the likes of Klaasen and Miller, and he has been the leading wicket-taker in the format between overs 41-50 in 2023.
South Africa While Temba Bavuma is expected to return in place of Reeza Hendricks, the South African skipper has also hinted at Tabraiz Shamsi’s inclusion given the venue’s history.
Probable XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lizaad Williams/Tabraiz Shamsi
Tactics & Strategy: Spinners haven’t fared well under lights in Chepauk in this year’s World Cup. To counter Pakistan’s spin trio potentially stifling their batting lineup, South Africa may need to change their approach and opt to chase.
Pakistan has struggled against left-arm leg-spin, which could encourage the Proteas to alter their combination and introduce Shamsi.
Notable Facts:
- Pacers have enjoyed better averages and strike rates at Chepauk in this World Cup compared to spinners. Pace bowlers have claimed 31 wickets, while spinners have taken 19.
- Four South African batters – Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller – have a strike rate over 100 in ODIs in India.
- South Africa has lost both the ODIs they played in Chennai, while Pakistan won two against India before their recent loss to Afghanistan.
Pre-Match Statements:
- Shadab Khan on the pace trio’s struggles: “These fast bowlers performed very well in the last couple of years for us and everywhere they played. So, we have faith in them, and sometimes, you know, everyone goes through these stages who played this professional sport. So, they go through these stages, but the main concern is like everyone is going (through) at the same time.”
- Temba Bavuma on South Africa’s batting template: “I think the process in itself, batting here in Chennai, that’s not going to change. We’ll assess the wicket and, I guess, come up with options as to how we can be successful. And if the opportunity is there for us to score 350, we’ll do so. If not, we’ll make sure we play what’s happening in front of us as best as we can.”
- Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.