South Africa vs Pakistan 1st ODI: Preview, starting time, teams and live stream

Date: 20 January

Time: 13:00

Venue: St George's Park, Port Elizabeth

TV and live stream: SABC 3, Supersport 3

Overview South Africa and Pakistan trade the red ball for the white one as the ODI series begins in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

The hosts ran off 3-0 winners in the Test series, meaning the men from the subcontinent will be determined to get off the mark in what has been an unhappy tour so far.

The series also affords both sides a chance to fine-tune their preparations for the World Cup which kicks off in a little over four months in England.

Pakistan will be pinning more hopes on their batting line-up, which largely faltered in the longest format, with the experience of Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez likely to prove invaluable alongside the talents of the likes of Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam, who both provide a different kind of threat in the abbreviated versions of the game.

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur chats with his team. Image from the ICC MEDIA ZONE. Coach, Mickey Arthur highlighted the need for his men to improve their skill set ahead of the global showpiece event, particularly against the short ball.

We have to have our skill set perfect to manage the bouncing ball. I want to get our batsmen into Australia three or four weeks early to have camps there to get them ready.

Mickey Arthur South Africa on the other hand have gone the experimental route, with the inclusion of two uncapped players in Rassie van der Dussen and Duanne Olivier, the latter Pakistan's chief tormentor in the Test series introduced to the squad belatedly after Dale Steyn was rested for the first two matches, possibly to Hafeez' relief.

South African bowler Duanne Olivier (C) celebrates next to Pakistan batsman Mohammad Abbas (R) during the second day of the third Cricket Test match between South Africa and Pakistan at Wanderers cricket stadium on January 12, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP) Olivier's exploits in the Test series have no doubt placed him on the selectors' radar for a spot in the World Cup, something he was coy when quizzed about.

I'm not thinking that far ahead; I take it day by day, Olivier said.

I'm going back to my franchise and see what happens there and just contribute towards the team; that's the most important thing.

Another player added late in the squad is opening batsman Aiden Markram, who replaces fellow top-order bat, Quinton de Kock after initially being rested.

De Kock and Steyn are expected to return to the fold in the third match at Centurion later this month.

I'm not thinking that far ahead; I take it day by day, Olivier said.

I'm going back to my franchise and see what happens there and just contribute towards the team; that's the most important thing.

South Africa vs Pakistan ODI series: Squads South Africa

*Squad named for the first two matches

Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Duanne Olivier, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen.

Pakistan Sarfaraz Ahmed(c), Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Shoaib Malik, Usman Khan.

Fixtures 19 January, Port Elizabeth

22 January, Durban

25 January, Centurion

27 January, Johannesburg (Pink ODI)

30 January, Cape Town

LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/south-africa-vs-pakistan-1st-odi-port-...
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