Web desk: Pakistan will start as the favourite against a second-string South African team in a 3-match T20 series.
The selection committee has made some changes to the squad, and three players will come directly into the team.
Here is their probable playing XI for the first match at Rawalpindi.
Sahibzada Farhan
Pakistan has tried so many different openers in the T20 format, but none have shown this much potential.
He was the highest run getter from the Pakistani side in the recent Asia Cup with 217 runs in 7 innings.
Most Pakistani batters have failed against India in the past and succumbed to the pressure of high-voltage matches.
But Sahibzada Farhan hit all Indian bowlers in all three matches. His scores read 40, 58, and 57.
In three matches combined, he scored 155 runs at an average of 51.66.
Saim Ayub
Saim Ayub failed with the bat in the Asia Cup with 3 consecutive ducks, but it was his impressive bowling that kept him in the team.
But Pakistan missed his talent with the bat. He has immense potential, and he has shown glimpses in recent years.
He will join Farhan as the second opener, and Pakistani pitches will suit his style of play. And his bowling gives him the edge, as Salman will turn to him as the 3rd spinner.
Babar Azam
Babar Azam is making a comeback into the T20I side after a string of middle-order collapses from the Pakistani team in the recent tournaments.
He has faced a lot of criticism for his slow strike rate, which was the primary reason behind his ouster, and Babar will have to adapt his game to the modern T20 style and show the world why he is one of the finest batsmen to ever come from Pakistan.
Hassan Nawaz
The Pakistani coach and captain haven’t been able to decide Hassan Nawaz’s role in the team.
He is a fine young talent, but they have been unable to milk it for all it’s worth. He came into the team as an opener.
He was then demoted lower down the order to play as a finisher. Again, his position was changed as he was brought in at 5 to strengthen the middle order.
But from what we have seen so far, the 4th position suits him best.
Salman Ali Agha (C)
Salman Ali Agha has captained Pakistan well in his short stint so far, but questions still remain about his form with the bat.
In the 32 matches he has played, he averages 23.37 with the bat at a strike rate of just 110, which is completely unacceptable in the modern T20S.
In the recent Asia Cup, his form dipped even more, where he could only manage 72 runs in 7 matches at a strike rate of 80.
His failures gifted the opponents momentum whenever the Pakistan team was on top in most of these matches.
He is an excellent player, but he needs to adapt to the T20 cricket style of play.
Usman Khan
The selection committee has made another blunder by replacing one out-of-form keeper with another one.
Usman Khan has come into the team, replacing Muhammad Haris. Since he is the only keeper in the squad, he is guaranteed a place in the playing XI. In 19 T20Is, he has scored only 239 runs at an average of 14.93 and a strike rate of 122.
And he plays rash shots just like Muhammad Haris, and he isn’t good with the gloves either.
It seems they are still ready to bring Rizwan into the team, who is the best T20 batter/keeper from Pakistan right now.
Muhammad Nawaz
Pakistan has invested heavily in Muhammad Nawaz, and he has started to show glimpses of his talent both with bat and ball.
He has bowled well since his return to the team, but it’s the improvement with the bat from him that is heartening to see.
Since Pakistan will play its upcoming T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka, Muhammad Nawaz will play a major role there.
Therefore, his place in the team is guaranteed, and he should try to make the most of it.
Faheem Ashraf
Faheem Ashraf has been around for so long, but he has never realised his potential.
He always performed in bits and pieces but didn’t become the all-rounder Pakistan wanted him to be.
Since Razzaq, Pakistan has tried so many players for the role of the fall-bowling allrounder, but none have fitted that criteria.
But he has started performing well, and Pakistan should give him a long run in the team.
In the Asia Cup 2025, he played some great cameos with the bat, and he was the main star with the ball in the final against India, taking 3 wickets for 29 runs.
Faheem is looking really confident right now and is showing form with both bat and ball. He is one of the players who should be getting consistent chances going forward, and he will repay them.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shaheen Shah Afridi made a terrific comeback with the ball in the Asia Cup. He was economical too, with an economy of just over 5.5.
He also showed glimpses of his batting potential with a couple of match-winning cameos. But it was his bowling that impressed the cricket fans the most.
Shaheen’s career has been marred by injuries in the past 3 years. But lately, he has shown glimpses of the Old Shaheen who used to trouble the top order of the world’s top teams.
He must continue to work more on his bowling and should spearhead the Pakistani bowling lineup in the future.
Naseem Shah
After Haris Rauf’s disappointing display with the ball in the Asia Cup final, which cost Pakistan the match, the selection committee has finally pulled the plug on his place in the team.
And Naseem Shah has been brought into the squad alongside Muhammad Waseem Junior.
It would be better to try Muhammad Waseem in the playing XI, as he is an excellent death bowler, but the coach and captain will probably favour Naseem because of his ability to swing the new ball.
Abrar Ahmad
Abrar Ahmad has continued to impress with the ball in white-ball cricket, and he is the main spinner in the team right now.
Most teams have started the build-up for the 2026 T20I World Cup, and the Pakistan team would rely heavily on Abrar.
He has been really economical with the ball, but he must also try to take wickets in the middle overs, even if he goes for runs.
The lack of wickets in the middle overs has been the main problem for the Pakistani team, as evidenced by their loss in the Asia Cup final.
Concluding Remarks
This is Pakistan’s likely playing XI for the first couple of matches, and it is good enough to beat the South African team, which is lacking its main guns, Rabada, Markram, Miller, and Jansen.
But Pakistan should not take them lightly, because they still have some capable players, and their batting lineup has gotten a huge boost with de Cock returning to the team after taking back his retirement.
Still, Pakistan starts as the favourite, and they must not get complacent.
