Pakistan will compete South Africa In the first match of the three-match ODI series. This article provides details about the playing 11 of South Africa vs Pakistan for the first match of the series.
South Africa Playing XI vs Pakistan – 1st ODI, South Africa tour of Pakistan 2025
Openers: Matthew Bretzke (captain), Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper)
The Proteas have selected an inexperienced but talented squad for the three-match ODI series against Pakistan and will be counting on it to perform well in all three formats of the game.
South Africa will be looking to build on their consistent performances in the ODI format of the game over the past few years, which also includes reaching the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup.
The visitors will be without the services of several senior players like ODI captain Temba Bavuma and T20I captain Aiden Markram and will be led by Matthew Bretzke, who made his debut earlier this year.
Bretzke is expected to open the innings for South Africa alongside experienced wicketkeeper batsman Quinton de Kock, who is making a comeback to ODI cricket having done so in the T20Is last month.
The pair will hope to get the team off to a good start in the first power play as well as provide a platform for other batsmen to take advantage by scoring runs individually.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Tony De Zorzi, Luan-Dre Pretorius, Dewald Brewis, George Linde, Corbin Bosch
Although Africa is expected to bat up to number seven with Corbyn Bosch coming into that particular position, there is a lot of inexperience in the South African batting lineup.
To cover this, the team will rely on the top five batsmen to bat intelligently by spending time on the wicket and getting used to the conditions, dictating the conditions in the middle overs.
Guys like Tony De Zorzi, Luan-Dre Pretorius and Dewald Brewis will be handed the job as they can change gears if needed.
It will be interesting to see how the African batsmen adapt to the change in format, as they were also a part of the recently concluded T20 series.
Bowlers: Nandre Berger, Bjorn Fortuyn, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi
The African bowlers will back themselves to put in a strong effort with the ball against a Pakistani batting lineup that has a good mix of youth and experience.
The African bowling attack is relatively inexperienced compared to its opponent.
Having said that, they can take confidence from the fact that they were able to bowl out Pakistan for 139 runs in the first T20I and were able to produce a similar performance.
The onus will be on the new ball bowlers to provide early success to the visiting team and make things easier for the spinners in the middle phase of the innings.
Nandre Berger and Lungi Ngidi are expected to open the bowling for Africa at both ends and will be supported by Lizard Williams, with Corbin Bosch as the pace bowling all-rounder.
Africa’s spin bowling department will be handled by George Linde and Bjorn Fortuin, who will be responsible for taking wickets in the middle overs.
