Pak vs SA 2nd T20I: Shaheen Afridi Rested, Baartman Returns for SA

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha opted to bowl again in the 2nd T20I as his side will fight to keep their series hopes alive. With the action shifting to Lahore after the opening match in Rawalpindi, all attention turned to Babar Azam, who returned to T20Is but was dismissed for a duck in the previous game.

There was a switch in the Pakistan side as they have decided to omit Shaheen Shah Afridi, who conceded 45 runs in the last match. Instead, they brought in left-arm fast bowler Salman Mirza, who has played five T20Is this year alone and has already taken eight wickets with an average of 16.75 and an economy rate of 6.87.

South Africa also made a change, introducing Ottniel Baartman in place of Lizaad Williams in the bowling attack. Baartman, part of last year’s T20 World Cup squad, returns after a spell away from action. The visitors kept their batting lineup intact after amassing 194 in the series opener, leaving no room for Lhuan‑dre Pretorius.

South Africa now holds a 1-0 lead in the series heading into this match.

Pakistan: 

1 Saim Ayub, 2 Sahibzada Farhan, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Salman Ali Agha (capt), 5 Usman Khan (wk), 6 Hasan Nawaz, 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Salman Mirza, 11 Abrar Ahmed.

South Africa: 

1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Tony de Zorzi, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 Matthew Breetzke, 6 Donovan Ferreira (capt), 7 George Linde, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Ottneil Baartman, 10 Nandre Burger, 11 Lungi Ngidi.