Pakistan is currently in a precarious situation in the ICC World Cup 2023. Despite starting the tournament with two consecutive wins, the Men in Green have faced three consecutive losses, including a significant setback against Afghanistan. To secure a spot in the semi-finals, Babar Azam’s team will need to win all their remaining matches.
In contrast, South Africa has been in excellent form, achieving impressive victories. They scored 428 runs against Sri Lanka, winning by 102 runs, 311 runs against Australia, winning by 134 runs, 399 runs against England, winning by 229 runs, and 382 runs against Bangladesh, winning by 149 runs. However, in a match against the Netherlands, they faced a 38-run loss, which was the only time they batted second in the tournament. In their cricketing history, Pakistan and South Africa have contested 82 ODIs. Pakistan has secured victory in 30 of those matches, while the Proteas have won 51. One match ended with no result. In their most recent encounter in April 2021, Pakistan defeated South Africa by 28 runs in a crucial match.
These two teams have clashed five times in previous ODI World Cups. Pakistan has won on three occasions, while South Africa has emerged victorious twice. Notably, Pakistan won the last two World Cup encounters in 2019 and 2015, while South Africa secured wins in 1992, 1996, and 1999.
The expected playing XI includes Abdullah Shafique, Temba Bavuma, Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Shadab Khan, Kagiso Rabada (Vice-Captain), Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Marco Jansen. The pitch offers potential for substantial scores once the batsmen become accustomed to its pace and bounce, but they should remain vigilant against spinners. The slower pitch can pose challenges for power hitters. Fast bowlers tend to find more assistance early in the game, while spinners become more effective as the match progresses. The MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) in Chennai has hosted 27 ODIs to date. Of these matches, the team batting first secured victory on 15 occasions, while the chasing team won 11 times. One match had no result. In the most recent match at this venue, Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by 8 wickets.
In Chennai, there is a 46% chance of rain in the morning. Nevertheless, the match is unlikely to face interruptions as the forecast suggests minimal rainfall during the match. Weather.com predicts the temperature to reach as high as 31 degrees Celsius. Humidity is expected to rise to 88%. According to Google’s win probability, South Africa is favored with a 62% chance of winning this match.
