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Pakistan is set to face South Africa in the first T20I match of their series on December 10 at Kingsmead, Durban. The match will commence at 9:30 PM IST. This series consists of T20I, ODI, and Test matches, highlighting a comprehensive tour between the two teams.

In recent contests, South Africa came out victorious against Pakistan in their last meeting during the 2023 World Cup. Historically, Pakistan has enjoyed a fair amount of success in T20I matches against South Africa, winning 12 out of their past 22 encounters.

Several key players will be taking the field, aiming to make a significant impact. South Africa will rely on their experienced batters including Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Reeza Hendricks. In the bowling department, Anrich Nortje and Ottneil Baartman are expected to lead, providing crucial breakthroughs.

Pakistan is coming into this match with momentum gained from a recent series win against Zimbabwe, where they attained a 2-1 victory. The Pakistani squad is power-packed with players like Saim Ayub, Omair Yousuf, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Abbas Afridi, all of whom will be key to their performance in this series.

The pitch at Kingsmead, known for its assistance to fast bowlers, is expected to offer significant lateral movement and bounce. This could be advantageous for the quick bowlers in both teams, potentially playing a decisive role in the match’s outcome.

South Africa’s squad will see players such as Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks, alongside Heinrich Klaasen, aiming to exploit the conditions at home. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s squad includes notable names like Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, who will look to steer their team to a win.

In addition to the cricketing action, the sports fraternity has been abuzz with news off the field, such as the support offer from former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev to ex-cricketer Vinod Kambli.

As both teams prepare to clash in Durban, the cricketing world eagerly anticipates which side will take the lead in what promises to be a thrilling series.

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