In a pivotal match at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, Pakistan finds itself grappling with a must-win situation against South Africa.
During the powerplay, Pakistan encountered a setback as they lost both their openers, Imam Ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique. The credit for these dismissals goes to Marco Jansen.
As the match progressed, Gerald Coetzee claimed the wicket of Mohammad Rizwan in the 16th over, putting Pakistan at three wickets down.
At the crease for Pakistan are skipper Babar Azam and Ifitkhar Ahmed, with the team’s total at 102/3 after 20 overs.
In a bid to turn their fortunes around, Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, won the toss and elected to bat first. This match marks Pakistan’s fifth appearance in the tournament.
After suffering three consecutive defeats against India, Australia, and Afghanistan, the team is determined to secure a victory against the formidable South African side, led by captain Temba Bavuma.
“We consider every match important, so we will give our best and aim to post a competitive total,” remarked Babar Azam at the toss. He also emphasized the need for improvement in all aspects, particularly in fielding and bowling.
Bavuma, who is making his return after an illness, expressed that he is “feeling much better.” He commended the inspirational performances of his team, stating that the batters are approaching their best form. Bavuma stressed the importance of maintaining momentum in this tournament, which differs from a T20 World Cup, and shared his hope that the pitch would be conducive to batting later in the evening.
