Chennai: The match between Pakistan and South Africa is likely to be affected by the rain at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. It is looking gloomy in Chennai with mild drizzle in the air. The Northeast monsoon could not have come at a worse time.
“Babar Azam wins the toss and elects to bat first in Chennai. Major changes in the playing XIs for both sides”, tweeted ICC.
Meanwhile, a struggling Pakistan side may take on the resurgent Proteas at the match. South Africa are second on the points table with 8 points from their 4 matches and a net run rate of +2.370.
South Africa will have the opportunity to overtake hosts India as the world’s top-ranked ODI side with a win over Pakistan in their upcoming World Cup match. Meanwhile, Pakistan are struggling to qualify for the semi-finals after successive defeats to India, Australia and Afghanistan. They must now win all their remaining matches and depend on the results of the other teams to secure a place in the last four. Amid speculation that Babar Azam could be sacked from the captaincy if Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup, the world’s number one ODI batsman will be looking to make a statement with the bat.
This is a pressure game for both teams, but especially for Pakistan. They are in a must-win situation and they will need their big players to step up. Babar Azam will be key, both with the bat and as captain. He will need to lead by example and inspire his team to victory.
South Africa, on the other hand, are in a good position. They are playing well and they have a lot of confidence. They will be looking to continue their winning streak and take the top spot in the ODI rankings.