Pakistan(National Times)- DURBAN: South Africa on Tuesday won the toss against Pakistan and decided to bat in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Kingsmead Stadium. The T20I away series is being played from December 10 to 14 with Muhammad Rizwan leading the national side. Earlier, Pakistan announced their playing XI with all-rounder Salman Ali Agha — who led the team in the recently-concluded T20I series against Zimbabwe — being left out of the squad. Agha managed to score just 45 runs in two innings, besides taking two wickets, and thus lost his spot in the team’s playing XI. The lineup also marks the return of Pakistan’s established opening pair of star batter Babar Azam and white-ball skipper Rizwan, while Saim Ayub demoted to bat at number three and wicketkeeper batter Usman Khan to follow. Usman forms the Green Shirts’ middle-order for the series opener with Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Irfan Khan and Mohammad Abbas Afridi. Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who alongside Babar, returned to the squad after being rested for the Zimbabwe series, will spearhead the bowling attack, comprised of Abbas, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed.
Pakistan’s playing XI: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed.
South Africa playing XI: Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Mathew Breetzke, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (c & wk), Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Andile Simelane, Nqaba Peter, Kwena Maphaka, Ottneil Baartman.
