Can Pakistan make a match out of an apparent mismatch?
Match facts
June 07, 2017
Start time 13.30 local (12.30 GMT)
Big Picture
South Africa and Pakistan are cricketing opposites in every conceivable way at the moment. South Africa are the highest-ranked team in the Champions Trophy, Pakistan the lowest. South Africa hammered Sri Lanka to kick off their tournament, while Pakistan were at the end of a pasting - against arch-rivals India, no less. South Africa's power-hitting stocks are the envy of virtually every other side in the tournament, while seemingly the only power-hitter in all of Pakistan has been suspended on charges of corruption during the Pakistan Super League. South Africa are favourites to win this game, Pakistan are not.
Pakistan have traditionally gone into big tournaments believing their bowling to be their biggest asset, but anyone who took a look at their performance during the game against India would begin to seriously wonder if that was the case this time around. In any case, the top-two ODI bowlers according to the ICC rankings are South African - Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir - so their opponents certainly have the edge in that department.
What other ways can we compare Pakistan and South Africa? Batting? What about (if only for amusement's sake) fielding?
South Africa did indeed lose the last series they played, but they got better with each game, culminating in a demolition of England in the final ODI. They continued that upsurge with a comfortable win over Sri Lanka, a game in which they were by no means excellent. It was a mark of their quality that victory never seemed to be in doubt, except for a brief period at the start of the second innings when Sri Lanka got off to a flyer. Hashim Amla scored a hundred, Quinton de Kock is perhaps the world's best young batsman, Tahir was Man of the Match. You could run through all the other names, without finding any real chink in the armour.
Pakistan can take inspiration from recent history. These two sides were similarly mismatched when they last took each other on at the 2015 World Cup, and South Africa were on course for a routine victory chasing a below-par total, before a few quick wickets derailed the chase and had Pakistan snatch an unlikely win. Eight of the XI that started for South Africa in the opening game of this tournament also played in that contest, so Pakistan may harness hopes of reopening old wounds.
Form guide
South Africa WWLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LWWLL
In the spotlight
David Miller is the sort of player Pakistan are crying out for: an explosive middle-order player who can have a devastating impact towards the close of an innings. He isn't just a slogger, though; it's just that South Africa's top order is so reliable he doesn't often get in before the 35th over. He's fresh off a 51-ball 71 in a thrilling ODI against England not too long ago, and though it couldn't get South Africa over the line, it highlighted the value Miller provides as a stable No.5 to a superb top order. Pakistan's death bowling was clueless against India, and it has been that way against the better teams for a while now. Miller should be licking his lips at the very prospect of facing them tomorrow.
Besides Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan was the only Pakistan bowler who could claim a passing grade from their game against India. The 18-year-old legspinner held his own against a daunting Indian batting line-up, ensuring the batsmen couldn't target him in a tournament where spin bowlers' chances haven't been fancied. Fifty-two runs came off his ten overs, and he even provided the opening breakthrough, deceiving Shikhar Dhawan in the air. He might be expected to perform a similar role against South Africa, who will be aware of the damage quality legspin can do, what with Tahir's heroics against Sri Lanka.
Team news
South Africa may be tempted to stick with the side that beat Sri Lanka so comprehensively, although that would mean they miss the transformation target - a minimum of six players of colour on average over a season - two games in a row. Phehlukwayo might be given a start, and in such an eventuality one of Chris Morris and Morne Morkel could make way.
South Africa (possible): 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 David Miller, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Morne Morkel/Andile Phelukwayo, 11 Imran Tahir
Wahab Riaz has been ruled out of the tournament, and Junaid Khan will take his place in the side. Sarfraz Ahmed also confirmed that Fakhar Zaman will open the batting, replacing Ahmed Shehzad.
Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Azhar Ali, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Junaid Khan
Pitch and conditions
There has been some drama surrounding the Edgbaston pitch. This game was scheduled to be played on an unused pitch, but it has gone soft due to the amount of rain. As a result, the match will be played on the same pitch that was used previously this tournament. As for weather, rain is expected to stay away for most of tomorrow, and a full game is expected.
Stats and trivia
- Pakistan have lost six successive Champions Trophy matches, a run that stretches back to 2009
- Hashim Amla became the quickest batsman to 25 ODI centuries with a hundred against Sri Lanka on Saturday. He needed 151 innings to get to the mark, overtaking Virat Kohli who took 162
Quotes
"Yes, definitely."
South Africa captain AB de Villiers on whether he'd like to see Russell Domingo stay on as coach after his term expires in September
"We have tried to lift the team's spirits, and the mood in the camp is very good now."
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed says his side is looking ahead, and not back at the disappointing defeat against India