After facing humiliating loss against India in their opening ICC Champions Trophy 2017 game, Pakistan would look to bounce back when they take on confident South African side in their Group B match at Edgbaston Cricket Stadium in Birmingham on June 7. South Africans have already won their first battle against Sri Lanka and they will keep the momentum going. The match will start at 6 PM IST.
Pakistan lost the game to arch-rivals India by 124 runs through Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method in a rain-affected match. This is going to be a must win battle for the Pakistanis if they want to keep their hopes alive in the tournament. While, a win for South Africans will see them through to the semi-finals from Group B. Ahead the game against South Africa, Sarfaraz Ahmed said:
“Our boys are focused and they would perform to their potential to beat South Africans in a must win battle.”
Key Players:
Pakistan:
Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, and Shoaib Malik need to perform their best in the batting department if they are planning to outclass South Africans. In the bowling department, Pakistan suffered a major blow as their frontline left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz ruled of tournament due to injury. All eyes will be on Mohammad Amir.
PREVIEW: Pakistan will be looking to bounce back against the number one ranked side South Africa __ https://t.co/WR3QRcqM4n #PAKvSA #CT17 pic.twitter.com/Fap5QK4js8
— ICC (@ICC) June 7, 2017
South Africa:
With the likes of Hashim Amla and Faf Du Plessis in the batting department and leg-spinner Imran Tahir in the bowling, the Proteas will look to push with an all-round attack against Pakistan.
_ It has been quite an incredible journey for Imran Tahir! pic.twitter.com/bKG48kbvMd
— ICC (@ICC) June 7, 2017
Previous encounter
The last time these two nations met in an ICC tournament, World No.8 Pakistan came on top, defeating top ranked South Africa by 29 runs by Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method.
Teams:
South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock(w), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers(c), David Miller, Jean-Paul Duminy, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Farhaan Behardien.
___ After a bright start, Sri Lanka was undone by Imran Tahir and some spectacular fielding by “Mr 360” himself, AB de Villiers #CT17 #SLvSA pic.twitter.com/RBQPz1aRTi
— ICC (@ICC) June 3, 2017
Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed(w/c), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Haris Sohail, Fahim Ashraf, Ahmed Shehzad.
ICYMI: Rumman Raees has been called up to the Pakistan squad to replace the injured Wahab Riaz __ https://t.co/O29bYhoi5s #CT17 pic.twitter.com/TIIrolqOTb
— ICC (@ICC) June 7, 2017