Pak vs South Africa T20 Series: Schedule and Rehearsal
Pakistan and South Africa are set to go head to head in the three-match T20 series starting Today; Lahore in Gaddafi Stadium.
Pakistan had whitewashed South Africa 2-0 in the Test series and they remain confident, while Proteas are eager to make amends in the shortest format.
Here is the full schedule for the series:
1st T20I – February 11 – Thursday – 3:30 pm at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
2nd T20I – February 13 – Saturday – 3:30 pm at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
3rd T20I – February 14 – Sunday – 3:30 pm at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
The toss for each match will take place at 3 pm – half an hour before the first ball; which is the standard in international cricket.
The South African team has been practicing in Lahore for the last five days while its Test squad was busy in Rawalpindi.
Playing the second Test; which they lost by 95 runs after losing the first Test by seven wickets in Karachi.
South Africa is ready to give its best
Klaasen said he was a second-string South African side, insisting the team had a good combination and would give its best against Pakistan to win the series.
The South African T20 squad is without seasoned campaigners like Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen and Lungi Ngidi as all of them returned with the Test squad as per the previous plan to meet Australia in the Test series at home.
Though the series was canceled after Australia’s recent withdrawal due to Covid-19 risk;
The South African Test players could not change their traveling plans due to a shortage of time.
Those who have been retained include head coach Mark Boucher and assistant coach Enoch Nkwe, who have been joined by South African ‘A’ Coach Malibongwe Maketa and Dolphins franchise coach Imran Khan.
Charl Langeveldt and Justin Ontong, the bowling and fielding coach respectively, have also gone back home with the Test squad.
About his own fitness after recovering from the Covid-19 virus; Klaasen said though he was playing the first match after more than two months; he was confident that in the practice sessions he had been striking the ball well.
Klaasen also shared his experience of isolation and warned the cricketers to be aware of the Covid-19 virus.
The writer is Freelancer, associated with Medical Profession ,working towards PhD in Healthcare Management.
