Following the culmination of a well-fought test series, Pakistan and South Africa shift their attention to the shortest format of the game, with both sides looking to build momentum and address their flaws ahead of the all-important T20 World Cup in early 2026.
The men in green made a host of changes to the squad that took part in the Asia Cup last month. In contrast, a rather second-string South Africa side will take the field in the 1st T20 in Rawalpindi, as a number of their T20I regulars have been rested ahead of the tour to India in November.
Pakistan Preview for the 1st T20 in Rawalpindi
Undoubtedly, Babar Azam’s return to the T20 squad caught the headlines ahead of the announcement of the white-ball squads for this series. Ironically, the last international T20 Babar played was against the same side in Centurion in December 2024, where he scored a 20-ball, 31 score in a losing effort.
Since then, Pakistan’s premier batter has had an underwhelming PSL, scoring 288 runs at a strike rate of 128.57, which included 3 fifties. He has not done anything quite special, but disappointing returns in the middle order and a lack of stability and firepower in the top order meant that the 31-year-old made a return to the side.
According to head coach Mike Hesson, Babar was picked in place of Fakhar Zaman, who has returned to first-class cricket for the time being as the southpaw wanted to improve his technique for ODI cricket. Hesson also revealed that the right-hander is expected to bat at number 3, a position he has taken in 32 innings, scoring at 127.85 with 11 fifties to his name.
Pakistan Squad Changes
Another southpaw, Saim Ayub however, retained his place in the T20 squad despite a disappointing last few months with the bat. Potentially, his bowling returns meant that the youngster would keep his place in the side.
The omission of Mohammad Haris was on the cards, as according to Hesson, the wicket-keeper batter did not make the most of the opportunities given to him.
He is replaced by the returning Usman Khan, who has not appeared in any competitive cricket since the end of PSL where he scored 213 runs at an impressive strike rate of 147.91. The right-hander will be eager to show his potential and could solidify his place in the side further.
To provide some much-needed firepower in the middle order, Pakistan named the hard-hitting Abdul Samad in the squad as well, with Hasan Nawaz also retaining his place in the side after being dropped midway in the Asia Cup after a lean run with the bat. Both batters have the potential to turn the game on its head and with the 1st T20 expected to be played on a flat track, they will look to make the most of it.
Another return to the side came in the bowling department, as Naseem Shah was named in place of Haris Rauf. Following his omission from the Asia Cup and tri-series squads, Naseem featured in the CPL and the first match of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
To round it up, Usman Tariq earned his maiden call-up to the national side. The right-arm off-spinner was the second-highest wicket-taker in the CPL with 20 scalps, which led his side, Trinbago Knight Riders, to lift the title. Along with Abrar, they can trouble a strong South African batting lineup.
South Africa Preview for the 1st T20 in Rawalpindi
David Miller, who was supposed to captain the African side, was ruled out of the series five days out following a hamstring injury. Wicket-keeper batter Donovan Ferreira will captain the side in his absence. Tony de Zori and Matthew Breetzke were also added to the T20 squad to further bolster their batting order.
Along with Babar Azam, another name that will be in the spotlight will be the returning Quinton De Kock who reversed his ODI retirement and was picked up for this T20I series in the buildup to the World Cup in a few months.
In a T20 career which began in 2012, this will be the first time that the left-hander will play an international T20 in Pakistan before this, De Kock has featured in just five 20-over matches against Pakistan, which were played in Dubai, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Sydney.
Accompanying him up the order would be another left-hander, the young and impressive Lhuan-dre Pretorius who has had a slow start to his international career in the shorter format but has seemingly been given the longer rope, after he was the leading run-scorer in the SA20, with 397 runs at 166.8.
Dewald Brevis, another name who has taken the cricketing arena by storm, will have another opportunity to showcase his class. He has certainly lived up to the “Baby AB” moniker, smashing 88 sixes in all T20s in 2025, just behind Sahibzada Farhan (93) and Nicholas Pooran (103).
After not being picked in the IPL auction, he was picked in the second half of the tournament and had an impressive stint. Following which, he notched the highest score by a South African in T20Is, scoring an emphatic 125 in 56 balls against Australia in Darwin in August.
In the bowling department, even in the absence of Kagiso Rabada, Ferreira will have Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, Corbin Bosch, Ottniel Baartman, and Lizaad Williams at his disposal for the 1st T20 in Rawalpindi.
With a vulnerable pace attack, Pakistan will look to take advantage of the flat pitch in the 1st T20 in Rawalpindi and play some high-risk cricket and put this second-string South African side on the back foot.
How Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium fares in International T20s
Lately, due to Pakistan preparing spin-friendly conditions to win Tests at home, the pitch in Pindi was well-curated in that regard.
However, in T20 cricket – that changes. In PSL and domestic cricket, it serves as an absolute batting paradise. In PSL, teams have surpassed the 250 barrier 4 times, and it was even chased once.
The story in International T20s on the contrary, is a different story. Out of 8 T20s played in Pindi, 2 have ended in no results, Pakistan have won 4 and New Zealand have won a couple. Whenever a team has won, they have done so by chasing.
Batting in the 1st innings is difficult to an extent, where the average total is 147/7, scored at 7.45 an over. This total increases to just 148/3 in the 2nd innings – but at a far superior run rate of 8.97, making the average run rate here in Pindi at 8.15.
To put it into perspective, Men’s T20I’s have taken place in 240 grounds around the world. On just 68 of them are runs scored at a quicker rate than Pindi’s 8.15.
Henceforth, based on the record, whichever captain wins the toss should have a field first and trust his batting lineup to chase the subsequent total down.
Predicted lineups for the 1st T20 in Rawalpindi
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.
South Africa: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Donovan Ferreira (c), Corbin Bosch, George Linde, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi, Nqabayomzi Peter.
Match Time: 20:00 Local Time.
