Babar Azam’s comeback adds edge to SA-PAK clash

The excitement is increased by Mike Hesson’s statement this week that Babar Azam, who has opened in 87 of his 121 innings, would probably bat at number three.

Like many others, South Africa has never participated in a Twenty20 International in Rawalpindi. Only New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and of course, Pakistan, have made it to the international stage out of the 107 men’s teams that have played in the format.

It has hosted eight games since November 2020. Pakistan won four games, while two were washed out. The first-fielding team won all six of the games that were played. They were all day/night or night games, such as Tuesday’s opening match of Pakistan’s series against South Africa in Pindi, which is set to begin at 8 p.m. local time.

The highest first-inning total was 193/5, which Pakistan attained in April 2023. The best score was 194/4, which New Zealand scored in response to win with four balls remaining.

At the same venue, four days before the year ended, the Kiwis fell to 90 all out. Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed 3/13, while Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Muhammad Amir each claimed two wickets.

Mark Chapman, who scored 104 not out in April 2023 from 57 balls, is the only batter to score a century out of the 91 batters who have taken guard in men’s T20Is in Pindi. With eight attempts ranging from 51 to 98 not out, the ground has a combined strike rate of 161.73.

There have been 78 run-ups marked out by bowlers. They have 15 times gone for fewer than a run-a-ball. In November 2020, Usman Qadir’s 4/13 against Zimbabwe stands as the highest bowling performance in Pindi’s history. Five bowlers have taken three wickets, although only four have done so.

240 venues worldwide have hosted men’s Twenty20 International matches. Only 68 of them had runs that flow more quickly per over than Pindi’s 8.18.

It will be interesting to see how the Pakistanis respond to Babar Azam rejoining their T20I team, despite all of that hard, cold reality.

Babar Azam hasn’t participated in any of their previous 15 matches under the format; his most recent appearance was in December 2024 in Centurion versus South Africa.

The South Africans will descend to the ground with a positive attitude. They leveled the Test series on Thursday by winning by eight wickets. The format has completely changed since then, and the only players in this squad are Tony de Zorzi and Dewald Brevis.

However, returning to the location of their victory won’t hurt. Being at a venue where they are proficient at playing Twenty20 Internationals won’t make Pakistan happier either. In competitive sports, that is as near to a win-win scenario as it gets.