TOUGH TIMES Pakistan's Salman Agha (left) celebrates his century during the Tri-Nation series, as Wiaan Mulder looks on, during the third one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 12, 2025. Picture: Asif Hassan/AFP
Image: Asif Hassan/AFP
It was always going to be a series that would be difficult for South Africa to find their best XI, but the Tri-Nation series against New Zealand and hosts Pakistan certainly didn’t go according to plan.
Two thumping defeats for the Proteas regardless of the team makeup does not sit well.
Both times, South Africa managed totals of over 300 (304 and 352) but their opposition had little difficult in chasing down the big scores.
If anything, it showed that the pitches in Pakistan are extremely flat and that scores of closer to 400 will be par in the Champions Trophy starting next week in the same country and the UAE.
With their loss to Pakistan on Wednesday, as the hosts chased down their victory target of 353 with six wickets to spare, South Africa will not get the chance to play in the final of the series scheduled for Saturday.
The extra match would have been ideal for the Proteas to tinker with their lineup or just give some of the same players another run.
That’s due in large part to a number of first-choice players not being available for the start of the series as they were involved in the SA20 playoffs and final with the dates conflicting.
The initial squad selected was just a 12-man group, of which six were uncapped players.
A player like 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka who is a travelling reserve for the Champions Trophy, was picked in the Tri-Nation squad but didn’t feature in either game.
Instead, Lungi Ngidi played both matches as the leader of the attack and picked up just one wicket across both contests. It’s worth mentioning though, Ngidi is working his way back to full fitness and the Proteas will rely heavily on him in the Champions Trophy.
Kagiso Rabada who didn’t play in either match due to his involvement in the SA20 final, will lead the attack at the Champions Trophy.
He and Ngidi though, are the only fast bowlers selected as the other seam options will be covered by allrounders Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder. Aiden Markram might even bowl a few overs if needed.
The bowling department therefore should be covered, but that’s if there aren’t any more injuries.
As the Tri-Nation showed South Africa, the Proteas simply need to score more runs and bowl better. It sounds simple, but achieving that will be the difficult part and all signs point to SA struggling in the Champions Trophy.
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