Babar Returns as Pakistan Bowls; Pretorius Out Due to Illness
In an exciting first T20I match on October 25, 2024, Pakistan won the toss against South Africa, choosing to bowl first at the Rawalpindi Stadium. This game marked a significant return for Babar Azam, who rejoined the T20 squad for the first time since December 2024, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Babar Returns as Pakistan Bowls
Pakistan’s captain, Salman Agha, made the announcement, and the atmosphere was electric. The pitch at Rawalpindi is known for producing high-scoring matches, and the team decided to emphasize their batting strength over additional specialist bowlers.
Team Composition
Pakistan fielded a balanced line-up featuring:
- Saim Ayub
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Babar Azam
- Salman Agha (captain)
- Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
- Hasan Nawaz
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Faheem Ashraf
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Abrar Ahmed
Naseem Shah made his return to the T20 side, partnering with Shaheen Shah Afridi in the fast bowling department. Abrar Ahmed was the only spinner in this match, while all-rounders Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf added depth to the team.
South Africa’s Strategy
South Africa, led by first-time captain Donovan Ferreira, also opted to bowl first if given the choice. They were strengthened by the return of experienced wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. Their lineup comprised four seam bowlers and a spinner, but they had to cope with the absence of Lhuan-dré Pretorius due to illness.
South African Squad
The South African team included:
- Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper)
- Reeza Hendricks
- Tony de Zorzi
- Dewald Brevis
- Matthew Breetzke
- Donovan Ferreira (captain)
- George Linde
- Corbin Bosch
- Lizaad Williams
- Nandre Burger
- Lungi Ngidi
This match promises to be an intriguing contest, especially with Babar Azam’s return and the adjustments made by both teams in their strategies.
