Image: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will continue as openers for the second T20I / © Wisden
For the 2nd T20 match against South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, Pakistan has announced their playing XI. Despite recent underwhelming performances, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will continue as openers. Rizwan, who scored a sluggish 74 off 62 balls in the first match, has faced criticism for his slow innings. Babar Azam, who was dismissed for a duck in the first T20I, also remains in the playing XI.
Saim Ayub will bat at No. 3, while Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, and Irfan Khan will follow in the middle order. Pakistan’s bowling attack will feature Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Abbas Afridi as the three front-line seamers, along with Abrar Ahmed as the sole spin option. Jahandad Khan replaces Sufiyan Muqim in the XI for this match.
Pakistan’s previous match saw them fail to chase down a target of 184, losing by 11 runs. Despite Rizwan’s fifty, which was criticized for being too slow, and Afridi’s three wickets, the team fell short. The second T20I is crucial for Pakistan to level the series after their loss in Durban.
Pakistan (Playing XI):
Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abrar Ahmed.