The final of the ODI series between South Africa and Pakistan will be played on 7th April and if reports are to be believed, the visitors are set to make two changes in the playing XI. According to Cricket Pakistan, Usman Qadir is set to replace Shadab Khan, who is ruled out of the series after suffering a toe injury in the second ODI, while Haider Ali will come in place of Asif Ali, who’s had a mediocre series with the bat.
The report further states that former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed is unlikely to feature in the game as Pakistan is not keen on playing Mohammad Rizwan as a specialist batsman. The decision on the playing XI will be taken by the management on eve of the match.
It has been a very competitive series with both matches going into the final over. Pakistan won the first ODI but South Africa bounced back in style to clinch the second game.
For the hosts, they’ll be without the services of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, David Miller and Quinton de Kock, who have left for India to participate in the Indian Premier League. The Proteas are expected to bring in Beuran Hendricks, Junior Dala, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder and Janneman Malan as replacements.
A huge controversy erupted in the previous game after Fakhar Zaman was run out for 193. The incident happened in the final over of Pakistan's chase. Fakhar was going for the second run when Quinton de Kock portrayed as if the ball was going to the non-striker's end which made Fakhar Zaman slow down and a direct hit from Aiden Markram caught the southpaw short of the crease. However, Zaman later cleared that De Kock was not at fault and it was his mistake to look back to check on the non-striker.