ICC World Cup 2023, PAK vs SA: Here's all you need to know

Quinton de Kock, Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pic: File Pic)

In the 26th clash of the ICC World Cup 2023, Pakistan will face South Africa in Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium. The match is scheduled at 2.00 pm. Both the teams will play their sixth match of the tournament, Pakistan is in the sixth spot with four points whereas South Africa is in the second spot in the team ranking list with eight points.

Pakistan has just won two games out of five matches played and South Africa has four out of the five matches played in the ICC World Cup 2023. Both the teams have faced each other in 82 ODI matches out of which the Proteas are leading with 51 wins and Pakistan has registered 30 wind under their name. One match between both the teams ended with no result.

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Today's clash is very important from the Pakistan cricket team's perspective as the win against South Africa will keep them alive in the ICC World Cup 2023. South Africa has just lost one game so far against the Netherlands, but will definitely look to win against Pakistan with huge to improve their run rate.

There's a big blow for Pakistan as their pacer Hasan Ali is ruled out of today's clash due to a fever. Pakistan Cricket Board medical panel has confirmed that he has been advised to rest in order to recover fully ahead of the remaining games. The speedster was recalled as the replacement for ace pacer Naseem Shah, who was ruled out of the ODI World Cup 2023 tournament due to a shoulder injury. It is a do-or-dir match for Pakistan team and also the end result of the tournament will decide the future of Babar Azam's captaincy.

Keeping in mind the dominant performance against South Africa, Fakhar Zaman might replace opener Imam-ul-Haq who runs through a lean patch in the ongoing World Cup.

South Africa's wicketkeeper batsman Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, stand by captain Aiden Markram all seem to be in good form in the ICC World Cup 2023. They will be the most eyed players from today's match. Protea's skipper Temba Bavuma is likely to play today's clash against Pakistan.

Squads:

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (w/k), Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen and Lizaad Williams

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim