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Sufiyan Muqeem And...? Rizwan Likely To Drop These Players For 2nd T20I vs South Africa

Debashis Sarangi

Mohammad Rizwan in action vs SA [Source: AP]Mohammad Rizwan in action vs SA [Source: AP]

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This evening, Pakistan will face South Africa in the all-important second T20I of the ongoing three-match away series. The high-voltage clash is set to take place at the iconic SuperSport Park in Centurion. 

Led by Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan had a poor start to the series, losing the first game in Durban by eleven runs. Apart from Babar Azam's failure, several other things went wrong for the visitors, and they would like to resolve their grey areas before heading to this match. 

Considering it's a do-or-die clash for them, Pakistan might tweak their playing XI to form a potent combination in Centurion. As the Men in Green prepare for the Proteas challenge, here are some changes they might make for this game. 

Sufiyan Muqeem Out, Mohammad Hasnain In

  • Sufiyan Muqeem, who bagged a historic fifer against Zimbabwe, had a forgettable day in Durban, conceding 53 runs in his four-over spell. The South African batters hammered him to all parts of the ground as he managed a solitary wicket. 
  • Considering Centurion's batting-friendly pitch, Pakistan might decide to drop their second spinner and include an additional fast-bowling option to their lineup. So, given that Abrar Ahmed performed admirably in Durban, Muqeem has to make room for someone like Mohammad Hasnain. 

Irfan Khan Niazi Out, Agha Salman In

  • The visitors might also decide to drop Irfan Khan Niazi, as the batter hasn't lived up to the expectations in his brief T20I career. He was dismissed for a solitary run in the first T20I, and given that he came to bat after Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan might consider replacing him with vice-captain Agha Salman. 
  • Although Salman hasn't had a great T20I career, he has proved his mettle in the other two formats. So, considering his reputation, Pakistan might give him another chance to prove himself, with his inclusion adding depth to their vulnerable middle order.