The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced two key changes to its Playing XI for Wednesday’s crucial tri-nation series clash against South Africa, as the team looks to recover from a disappointing start to the tournament.
Pace bowler Mohammad Hasnain has been drafted into the squad, replacing the injured Haris Rauf, while middle-order batter Kamran Ghulam makes way for Saud Shakeel. These adjustments reflect Pakistan’s effort to strengthen both their bowling and batting lineups ahead of the must-win encounter.
Pakistan will be eager to bounce back against South Africa after suffering a narrow defeat in their opening game. The team’s performance in the previous match left much to be desired, with the batting lineup struggling to chase down a formidable target set by New Zealand.
For the uninitiated, Pakistan fell short in their opening match of the tri-nation ODI series at Gaddafi Stadium, losing by 78 runs to New Zealand. Despite a promising start, Pakistan failed to build momentum and collapsed under pressure while chasing 331.
New Zealand’s innings was powered by a sensational unbeaten century from Glenn Phillips, supported by fifties from Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell, which helped them post a daunting total of 330 for six.
Pakistan’s response began on a strong note, with Fakhar Zaman and captain Babar Azam putting together a solid 52-run opening stand. However, apart from Fakhar’s valiant effort, Pakistan’s batting unit struggled against New Zealand’s disciplined attack and was eventually bowled out for 252 in 47.5 overs at Gaddafi Stadium.
As Pakistan prepares for the showdown against South Africa, the team hopes that the inclusion of Hasnain and Shakeel will provide the much-needed balance to turn their campaign around.
Pakistan squad for tri-nation series and Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan will be aiming for a strong comeback in the upcoming match, as they seek to regain momentum and keep their hopes alive in the tri-nation series.