Pakistan captain Agha Salman won the toss and elected to bowl first in the second T20 International against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. With conditions expected to favor seamers early on, Pakistan aims to capitalize on the evening moisture and restrict the Proteas to a manageable total.
For Pakistan, the playing XI includes Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Agha Salman (c), Usman Khan (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Salman Mirza, and Abrar Ahmed.
South Africa’s lineup features Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira (c), George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Nandre Burger, Ottniel Baartman, and Lungi Ngidi.
According to pitch reports, the surface offers a lush grass covering with good bounce, promising a fair contest between bat and ball. Experts suggest that batters will find value for their shots once set, while bowlers targeting the top of off-stump could find early success.
With Pakistan opting to bowl, all eyes will be on their pace trio — Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf, and Salman Mirza — to deliver early breakthroughs and set the tone for an intense clash under Lahore’s floodlights.
