PAK vs SA: South Africa playing XI vs Pakistan, Match 26, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – Predicted

South Africa will lock horns with Pakistan in match No. 26 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Chennai.

If we put aside the defeat against Netherlands in Dharamsala, then South Africa are a team that are tough to beat in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. They have won four games with a margin of over 100 runs, which is a statement. They have posted 300+, 350+, and 400+ totals so far in these games.

That's how they will go about the business, even in the next game. South Africa will face Pakistan in the next game on Friday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. They are second on the points table and will be confident to win the game against Pakistan, who are coming off three consecutive defeats. Here we will talk about South Africa's predicted playing XI against Pakistan.

PAK vs SA: South Africa's Predicted playing XI vs Pakistan

1. Quinton de Kock (wk) :

Pakistan must make a plan against Quinton de Kock and dismiss him early, or else he will score yet another hundred. With three centuries in five games, De Kock is the highest run-scorer in this tournament. He has scored 407 runs at an average and strike rate of 81.40 and 114.97. We are expecting another master-class from De Kock.

2. Reeza Hendricks :

Reeza Hendricks is expected to continue, as there is no news from the camp about Temba Bavuma's inclusion. Hendricks has also done a decent job in two games. He has scored 97 runs, including 85 against England, which gave the team a fantastic start. He will be an important batter for South Africa on a tricky pitch in Chennai.

3. Rassie van der Dussen :

Rassie van der Dussen is another player who has been among the runs for South Africa in this tournament. He has scored a hundred and fifty in five games and scored 199 runs. Van der Dussen has been scoring consistently over the years, which is why he is the No. 3 ranked ODI batter and will be a big wicket for his team.

4. Aiden Markram :

The stand-in captain, Aiden Markram, is another important player in the middle-order. He has been among the runs and started the competition with a 49-ball ton against Sri Lanka. Markram has scored 265 runs at a strike rate of 123.83, which is just exceptional for a player. He will be keen to take his team to another win on Friday.

5. Heinrich Klaasen :

Pakistan will hope that they somehow dismiss Heinrich Klaasen, or else we will be in for a show in Chennai on Friday. This man has set the tournament on fire with his power-hitting and has the best strike rate so far. Klaasen has scored 288 runs at an average and strike rate of 57.60 and 150.78, which is mind-boggling. If he gets going, it will be over for Pakistan.

6. David Miller :

Despite not being in too much limelight like other South African players, David Miller has done his work silently. He has scored 138 runs at an average of 46 and a strike rate of 128.97, which makes him an important player on this team. Miller can score runs at faster strike rate even while setting or chasing the total, and his numbers in India are also pretty good to put pressure on the opposition.

7. Marco Jansen :

Marco Jansen has done justice to the specialist all-round tag given to him with some brilliant cameos and wicket-taking ability. The all-rounder has scored 123 runs at an average and strike rate of 61.50 and 126.80, and he has also taken 10 wickets in this game, which makes him the player to watch out for against Pakistan in Chennai.

8. Gerald Coetzee :

Gerald Coetzee has impressed everyone with his fighting attitude and has been among the wickets every time he has played in this tournament. He has taken 10 wickets in four innings at a strike rate of 18.60. Coetzee will be very hard to get away from for Pakistani batters because he is always at the front and picks wickets.

9. Keshav Maharaj :

Keshav Maharaj will surely be a threat in the middle overs because Chennai is best-suited for him as a spinner. He has taken seven wickets at a brilliant economy rate of 4.60 when South Africa have been involved in high-scoring games. Maharaj has done well against Pakistan and will be confident enough to do it again on the biggest stage.

10. Kagiso Rabada :

South African bowling-attack is one of the best in this tournament, and Kagiso Rabada is leading that pack. He has always been among the wickets whenever he came to bowl so far. With 10 wickets in five games, he is doing pretty well. His team has used him to take wickets in the middle, and Pakistan will look to play him well.

11. Tabraiz Shamsi :

Tabraiz Shamsi has played only one game so far and taken two wickets, but South Africa have preferred four-pacer attack. But the pitch in Chennai has always helped the spinners, so we might see Shamsi playing a game on Friday. And he can be a possible threat because Pakistan have struggled against a wrist spinner in recent times.