The inability to well time and hit slow deliveries for boundaries has caused Pakistan two back to back T20 losses. In last both T20Is against South Africa, Pakistan managed to pull things off in the quest of huge targets, but yet they couldn’t turn the results in their favour in the end.
Though fears don’t hover over Pakistan as even if they lose the third T20I on Wednesday at Supersport Park in Centurion as well, still they retain the top position in ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings.
But yet they would strive to avoid the T20 series whitewash. Prior to it, Pakistan have just once been whitewashed in a bilateral series comprising three T20Is. The touring England beat Pakistan in November 2015 in the three-match series in UAE. Although the third T20 at Sharjah was decided in the super over.
Pakistan’s lack of 6s since the 2016 World T20 – average of 4.69 sixes per 20 overs #Cricket pic.twitter.com/sZ2yLQsPuX
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 5, 2019
For the third T20I, Pakistan may include Mohammad Amir and Sahibzada Farhan in the playing squad. Both of them haven’t yet featured in the ongoing series. While Mohammad Hafeez reportedly hasn’t yet recovered from his injury.
South Africa would continue to be led by David Miller in the absence of resting Faf du Plessis. They may also go with the all-rounder Wiaan Mulder in the final game.
The third T20I would also bring Pakistan’s over one-and-half month tour to South Africa to an end. During the tour, Pakistan lost the three-match Test series 0-3 and five-match ODI series 2-3 against the host.
Pakistan’s first T20I series defeat since the World T20 2016 in India. Even if they lose the series 3-0, they will stay at number one in the T20 Rankings. #RSAvPak
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) February 3, 2019
In the Test series, South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and Duanne Olivier remained the highest scorer and wicket taker with 251 runs and 24 wickets respectively.
Whereas in the ODI series, Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq with 271 runs and South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo with 8 wickets topped the respective charts.