AB de Villiers-led side South Africa is taking on Pakistan in the Group B match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 at Edgbaston Cricket Stadium in Birmingham on June 7. Interestingly, South African side, usually took to the field in green jersey, will be donning the yellow one for today’s encounter just to avoid ‘clash of jersey’ with Pakistan as both Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side and Proteas traditionally wear green jerseys, something which happens in football quite often but not much of it has been seen in the past in cricket.
Meanwhile, South Africans have won the toss and they decided to bat first. This is a day-night battle. Also, this is a must win game Pakistanis as they already lost the opening game against India by mammoth 124 runs on June 4. While South Africans, who have already won their first battle against Sri Lanka, would look to keep the winning momentum going to seal the semi-final berth.
Here come the teams! Let's do this _
__v__#PAKvSA #CT17 pic.twitter.com/CjfMNkQpyo
— ICC (@ICC) June 7, 2017
South Africa have a good record at Edgbaston, Birmingham. South Africa have secured wins in both their previous Champions Trophy games at Edgbaston (Pakistan in 2013, Bangladesh in 2004).
WATCH: what the captains had to say at the toss, where @ABdeVilliers17 won and chose to bat first #PAKvSA #CT17 https://t.co/K0tLB3kUCN pic.twitter.com/9llNr2oVFV
— ICC (@ICC) June 7, 2017
Earlier, Shoaib Malik has presented the ODI cap to Fakhar Zaman and he will make his debut. The 27-year-old has played three T20Is.
Congratulations to Fakhar Zaman, who received his cap and will make his ODI debut for __ today! #PAKvSA #CT17 pic.twitter.com/FSL7xFY7dF
— ICC (@ICC) June 7, 2017
Here are the playing XIs of both the teams
Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed(w/c), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Hasan Ali
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
This is what the __ changing room looks like ahead of #PAKvSA! #CT17 pic.twitter.com/eQQwNRIW5a
— ICC (@ICC) June 7, 2017