Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI Tri nation series 2025.

 

 File: Mohammad Rizwan and Reza Handricks

The 3rd match of the Tri nation series between Pakistan and South Africa will be played at National Stadium Karachi. The match is scheduled to be played on February 12, 2025.  

What happened in last matches?

New Zealand has already booked a place in the Final, They have proven them selves to be a dominant force in this Tri nation series by winning back to back games. In the series opener they defeated Pakistan with a solid performance with both bat and ball coutesy of Glenn Philips mangeficant hundered and quality spin bowling. In the 2nd game they have thrashed South Africa by 6 wickets with a power packed performance from their senior players Kane Williamson and Devon Convey. kane Williamson scored his 16th ODI hundred and Devon Conway scored 97 runs.

    Photo: Devon Conway and Kyle vereyane

Importance of this match

As the winner of this game will move to final which will take place on 14 February 2025, so both the teams will try to make a solid comeback as Champions Trophy is just around the corner. Indeed it is a semifinal between Pakistan and South Africa so, we can expect a high quality game loading up.

Venue and Pitch

The 3rd match of this Tri nation series will be played at National Stadium Karachi. It will be a day and night game. The pitch at National Stadium Karachi offers good assistance to both fast and spin bowlers. Fast bowlers with new ball can extract good bounce where as spinners will get assistance as the game will progress. We have seen both high and low scoring games here. Teams batting second have won the game 37 times having slight edge as compared to teams batting 1st.  As it will be the 1st match at National Stadium Karachi so, there will be a fresh pitch to be used in this match and due might also play its role later in the evening so Team winning the toss might decide to ball first. The average total here in 1st innings in 237, so any thing above 280 will be tricky chase.

Team News

For Pakistan there will be a forced change as Harris Rauf is injured so Muhammad Husnain is expected to replace him. Whereas Kagiso Rabada is expected to make his way back into the line up after being sidelined in the previous ODI.

Key Players to watch? 

Fakhar zaman: 

For Pakistan Fakhar Zaman is one of player to watch out for. He has played a teriffic knock in the 1st ODI against New Zealand. He is in a very good touch. Pakistan would like him to go big again in the crucial game.

Babar Azam:

Babar Azam is one of the best batter of this generation. He is well known for his classy shots and great batting technique. In the previous game Babar Azam could not perform well so he will be itching to make a statement and get his form back as the all important ICC champions Trophy is just about to start. If Pakistan are to win this match and if they want to go deep into the ICC champions Trophy Babar Azam will have to find his best touch.

    Photo: Babar Azam-credits ICC

Tema Bavuma:

In the absence of South African key players Temba Bavuma will have to take the resposibility and lead from the front to set a good total. If South Africa have to win this game Temba Bavuma will have to score big from the top.

Kagiso Rabada:

KG Rabada is one of the best fast bowler of this generation. He will have to lead the quite inexperienced pace attack and pick earlier wickets with the new ball. He would be very crucial for South African team success in The ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Head to Head

Both the Teams faced each other 86 times in ODI South Africa won 52 matches and Pakistan 33. Whereas last time when both teams met in ODI series it was 2 months agao in December 2024 when Pakistan won that series 3-0.

    Photo: Keshav Maharaj- Credits ICC

Recent Results

Pakistan: LWWW

South Africa: LLLL

Match Prediction

Pakistan is playing at their home and they have recently beaten South African very experienced team 3-0 where as in this tournament South Africa have also rested their 5-6 Senior 1st team players. So we are expecting Pakistan to make a solid come back and book its place in final with New zealand on february 14, 2024. Meanwhile South Africa still have to cards to shock the hosts and win it.

    Photo: Shadab Khan, Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan and other Players-Credits ICC

Conclusion 

It is a must win game for both the teams so we are expecting a cracker of a game loading tomorrow. What do you think who will win this game? Will Pakistan make a come back and secure a place in final with New Zealand or will South Africa shock the hosts and win it? Let us know your thoughts in comments.