Three South Africa players to watch out for in T20I series vs Pakistan

South Africa are ready to take on Pakistan in the three-match T20I series, starting with the game on February 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.Both teams are coming in the contest after a hard-fought two-match T20I series where the Men in Green emerged victorious with 2-0 scoreline.

All three matches will be played at the same venue in Lahore and the final game of the tour will be played on February 14.We have identified a list of three South Africa players who have the ability to turn the game in the favour of the visiting team.

David Miller

David Miller is a renowned name in white-ball cricket. The left-hander is undoubtedly the most experience player in the upcoming T20I series amongst both teams. In the absence of majority of the senior players, South Africa’s team management will be hoping for bigger and better things from their experienced pro.

However, Miller’s form off late with the bat in hand will be a cause of concern for the coaching staff where he has not managed to score a half-century in last 10 innings in the 20-over format for the national team at a below-par average of just 25.85.

Miller has represented South Africa in 78 T20Is where he has managed to score 1,409 runs at an average of 29.35 along with a strike-rate of 138.40, which included one century and two fifties. Against Pakistan, Miller’s record is pretty decent where he has managed to score 202 runs in 11 innings at an average of 33.66 along with strike-rate of 142.25.

Andile Phehlukwayo

Andile Phehlukwayo is now a permanent member of South Africa’s white-ball cricket for a long time. The 24-year-old has been around for a while and has already represented the national team in 27 T20Is where he has managed to score 92 runs and claimed 35 wickets as well.

With majority of the first-team going back home and not taking part in the upcoming T20I series for South Africa, the visitors’ team management will be hoping that their star all-rounder will put his hand up and deliver with both bat and ball in hand.

Against Pakistan, Phehlukwayo has played three matches in the 20-over format where he has managed to score 15 runs and claimed five wickets.

Tabraiz Shamsi

Tabraiz Shamsi is South Africa’s premier spinner in white-ball cricket. The left-arm wrist-spinner is one of the very few players who arrived in the country for the Test series and is set to stay for the T20Is as well. Shamsi was in line to play the first Test in Karachi but was ruled out at the very last moment due to a back injury.

The 30-year-old has a lot of experience of playing in the 20-over format where he has taken part in 138 matches and has 146 wickets to his name. For South Africa, Shamsi has played 25 T20Is in his career where he has managed to claim 21 wickets.

However, with the conditions likely to favour spinners, the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s spin maestro is likely to have a bigger role to play. Shamsi has played three T20Is against Pakistan where he has managed to claim just two wickets at an average of 47.