Tue Dec 17 14:42:08 UTC 2024: ## South Africa Choose to Bat First Against Pakistan in ODI Series Opener

**Paarl, South Africa:** South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first against Pakistan in the opening ODI of their three-match series at Boland Park. The match marks the last bilateral ODI series for both teams before next year’s Champions Trophy.

Several key players returned for both sides after absences due to other commitments. South Africa welcomed back Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, while Pakistan saw the return of Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah. However, South Africa will be without left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who picked up a niggle just before the toss, replaced by all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo. Aiden Markram captains South Africa, with Tabraiz Shamsi their sole specialist spinner. Pakistan, meanwhile, opted for only four specialist bowlers, including leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed. Salman Ali Agha’s inclusion provides Pakistan with an extra spin option.

Eighteen-year-old Kwena Maphaka is the only uncapped player in the South African squad for the series. While South Africa faces the challenge of managing player workload across formats amidst injuries, Pakistan enters the series on a high, fielding their strongest possible XI. The full playing XIs are listed below:

**South Africa:** 1 Tony de Zorzi, 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram (capt), 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 Heinrich Klaasen, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Andile Phehlukhwayo, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Ottneil Baartman, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi

**Pakistan:** 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), 5 Kamran Ghulam, 6 Salman Agha, 7 Irfan Khan, 8 Shaheen Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed

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