In-form South Africa face lacklustre Pakistan

Birmingham: In-form South Africa will look to seal a spot in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament, while Pakistan will aim to bounce back after being annihilated by India in their Group B match at Edgbaston here on Wednesday.

South Africa has the big names to make a big impact, but Pakistan has the unpredictability and bowling smarts.

Head-2-Head in ODIs:
South Africa leads this tally by a massive 23 matches. Pakistan has lost 47 of the 72 matches played against South Africa, with one no result. Pakistan has lost both its Champions Trophy encounters against South Africa.

Previous Champions Trophy encounter:

1. Edgbaston, Birmingham, June 10, 2013
   South Africa won by 67 runs
2. Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh, October 27, 2006
   South Africa won by 124 runs

Key players for each side:

At a time when Pakistan is looking for reliability in its batting, Sarfraz Ahmed has name for himself as a proactive batsman. He has rescued Pakistan from batting collapses with his ability to be positive. His ability to score quick runs will definitely come in handy against a side like South Africa.

For the past few years now, South Africa’s most reliable batsman has been Hashim Amla. Amla’s skillful and classy batting will have to be at its best against a strong bowling line-up like Pakistan’s. Pakistan, meanwhile, has to watch out for Amla’s ability to switch gears quickly and not allow him to settle.

Left-arm pacer's Rumman Raees replaces injured Wahab Riaz; inclusion approved by ICC.

Teams from:

South Africa: AB de Villiers (Capt.), Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Keshav Maharaj, Dwaine Pretorius, Farhaan Behardien and Morne Morkel

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (Capt. & wk), Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Amir, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Haris Sohail, Imad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman, Fahim Ashraf, Rumman Raees, Junaid Khan, Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan

Stats and trivia

• AB de Villiers averages 61.86 against Pakistan with three centuries against the side.
• South Africa’s highest score against Pakistan is 392 for 6, made in Centurion in 2007.

Best at Champions Trophy:
Pakistan: Semi-Finals, 2000, 2004, and 2009
South Africa: Winners, 1998

Match facts
Monday June 7, 2017 (day/night)
Start time 1330 local (1230 GMT)