South Africa vs Pakistan: A Tale of Two Teams

South Africa's men's Test team is on a roll, having won five of their last six matches, while their white-ball counterparts are struggling, having lost their last four ODIs. The Test side's success has been built on stability at the crease, with eight players scoring centuries this year, more than any other side except India.

The Contrast Between Test and White-Ball Teams

The same players who were involved in the 2-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka were also part of the 3-0 ODI series loss to Pakistan. This bipolarity has led to concerns that the trend could be reversed, with the white-ball coach, Rob Walter, hoping that the Test side's success will rub off on the white-ball team.

Pakistan's Path to the WTC Final

Pakistan's path to the WTC final is exponentially more complicated, but they are capable of swinging wildly between heroic and villainous cricket. Their likely opening pair, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, perfectly capture Pakistan's magic, with Ayub scoring two centuries in his three innings in the ODIs and Shafique having not a solitary run to show from his three trips to the crease.

South Africa's Focus on the WTC Final

South Africa has taken a different tack to make it to the top of the WTC standings, eschewing dazzle in favour of dependability. They will be relieved that Shaheen Shah Afridi, the leading wicket-taker on either side in the ODIs, is not in the Test squad.

Weather Forecast

Rain and thunderstorms have been forecast for the first three days, with mere showers expected for the last two. The weather has been wet in the lead up to the match, making pitch and outfield preparation difficult.

Teams and Squads

Confirmed XI for South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch

Possible XI for Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (capt), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah