Pakistan opted to bat first after winning the toss against South Africa in the second One-Day International held in Faisalabad on Thursday. This marks the continuation of a challenging tour for South Africa, who has faced a string of losses, including seven consecutive tosses throughout their visit to Pakistan. The two teams previously concluded a drawn test series at 1-1, while Pakistan emerged victorious with a 2-1 win in the Twenty20 series.
In preparation for this match, Pakistan made two notable lineup changes after successfully chasing down 264 runs in the first ODI earlier in the week. Allrounder Faheem Ashraf took the place of struggling middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz, while fast bowler Mohammad Wasim replaced leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.
On the other side, South Africa opted to shake up their bowling attack, substituting out fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Lizaad Williams for Nqabayomzi Peter and Nandre Burger. This adjustment reflects the team’s efforts to regain their footing in the series.
The starting lineups for both teams featured key players who are expected to make significant contributions. For Pakistan, the lineup includes Fakhar Zaman, captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, and star batsman Babar Azam, while South Africa will rely on Quinton de Kock and captain Matthew Breetzke.
As the match unfolds, spectators are eager to see if Pakistan can clinch the ODI series and South Africa can finally shift the momentum in their favor.