PAARL: Pakistan’s white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan on Monday, revealed that the team is currently inclined towards ODIs to bolster its preparations for the forthcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
Rizwan, while addressing a press conference ahead of the Pakistan’s three-match away ODI series against South Africa, acknowledged that the national team could not secure desired results in T20Is but insisted that their focus remains solely in preparing for the eight-team tournament.
“Whatever failures we have faced in the past, we’ve left them in the past but we learn from them,” said Rizwan.
“Yes, we did not achieve desired results in T20I series but personally, we are more focused on ODIs in order to prepare for the Champions Trophy.
“T20Is and ODIs are two different formats. So, we would try to continue our winning rhythm in ODIs.”
The wicketkeeper batter admitted that South Africa, who outclassed Pakistan 2-0 in the recently-concluded T20I series, would have an ‘edge’ in the ODIs but remained confident in his team’s recent progress in the longer format, which includes a historic 2-1 away series victory Australia.
“They have the momentum after winning the T20I series against us. They have the edge but recently, we also defeated Australia in Australia and then won a series in Zimbabwe.
“So, it would be a tough competition because if they have the momentum, we also have it.”
The first ODI between Pakistan and South Africa is scheduled to be played on Tuesday at the the Boland Park here, while the second and third ODIs will take place on December 17 and 22 at the Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town and The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on 17 and 19 December, respectively.
Pakistan ODI squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk).
South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Marco Jansen, Ottneil Baartman, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tony de Zorzi, and Tristan Stubbs.
Faizan Lakhani Faizan Lakhani is Deputy Editor (Sports) at Geo News.
