Following story was posted prior to the start of first ODI between Pakistan and South Africa at Port Elizabeth on January 19, 2019.
Pakistan may somewhat wipe out the ignominy, it suffered after being whitewashed in Test Series, by vanquishing South Africa in the five-match ODI Series beginning on Saturday.
Sarfraz Ahmed’s men will play the first ODI at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth, wherein Pakistan has so far remained unbeaten against South Africa in the past.
Pakistan won two of three One Day Internationals (ODIs) at St George’s Park against South Africa in December 2002 and November 2013. While one match was rained off in February 2007.
Overall, Pakistan has played 73 ODIs against South Africa from 1992 till date. Out of them, it won 25 and lost 47 whereas one game ended without producing any result.
Ahead of the #SAvPAK ODI series, #ThrowbackThursday to when @SarfarazA_54 took 6⃣ catches in Pakistan’s victory against South Africa at #CWC15, equalling the record for the most catches in a @cricketworldcup innings!
The third is particularly 👌 pic.twitter.com/jWDR0GTD09
— ICC (@ICC) January 17, 2019
But in Contrast to ICC Test Rankings, Pakistan and South Africa’s Current ODI Rankings are not much apart. The 5th ranked Pakistan is just one step down to South Africa in ICC ODI Rankings.
Pakistan has never lost an ODI at Port Elizabeth
Also for ODI Series, Pakistan is well equipped with experienced players as well as young talent.
Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Hussain Talat and Usman Shinwari have rejoined the Team for ODIs against South Africa.
Therefore, Pakistan unlike the Test Series may not succumb to defeat easily in ODIs, and even take South Africa by storm.
Faf du Plessis “I think Pakistan is a very good one-day side. They will be the first to say that from performances over the last year their one-day side has been much stronger than their Test side” #SAvPAK
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) January 18, 2019
Another aspect which favours Pakistan is that it won four out of last five ODIs against South Africa.
For the first ODI, South Africa has rested Dale Steyn and Quinton de Kock. Their spots will be filled by Aiden Markram and Duanne Olivier.
