PAARL: Pakistan will put their T20 concerns aside and shift focus entirely towards 50-over cricket when they take on South Africa in the opening fixture of the three-match One-day International series at the Boland Park here on Tuesday.
While the Mohammad Rizwan-led side have found themselves left behind in the shortest format against top sides lately — losing 3-0 and 2-0 against Australia and South Africa respectively — they are riding high on confidence when it comes to one-day cricket, having beaten the Australians 2-1 Down Under last month.
The series win against Australia has put Pakistan in the right direction with the ICC Champions Trophy hardly three months away. The matches with South Africa, however, will be Rizwan and co.’s chance to stamp their authority as an in-form one-day side if they go on to win the series.
It will also help Pakistan get closer to their goal of identifying the right combination with their eye on Champions Trophy honours, with the tournament set to be hosted by the country from February 19 to March 9.
Pakistan’s squad has been bolstered with the return of pacer Naseem Shah, opening batter Abdullah Shafique and top-order batter Kamran Ghulam while wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan have received their maiden ODI call-ups.
This will be Rizwan’s third ODI series as skipper of the side as he has started his stint with back-to-back ODI series wins over Australia and Zimbabwe.
In their last bilateral face-off in the 50-over format, Pakistan won the three-match series 2-1 in South Africa in April 2021.
