Pakistan vs South Africa 1st T20 Predictions & Tips - Rizwan and Azam have the class to be the difference

South Africa are not a very good T20 side at the moment and head into this series with nine key players unavailable. Pakistan should have no problems winning the match, so the value is in the run scoring markets. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam are backed to do the business for the hosts with the bat.

South Africa hold an 8-6 advantage over Pakistan in their 14 previous T20 meetings. The sides have never played a T20 match against each other in Pakistan.

Their last clash took place at Centurion in February 2019. Pakistan eased to victory in that match by 27 runs.

Pakistan have tasted success in five of their last seven T20 fixtures, with the last being against New Zealand in December 2020.

That clash took place in Napier where New Zealand batted first and scored 173 runs. Faheem Ashraf was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-20 in his four overs.

Mohammad Rizwan opened the batting for Pakistan and scored a stunning 89 runs off 59 balls, while Mohammad Hafeez added 41 to the total.

Pakistan chased down the 173 runs with two balls to spare to win by four wickets. At full strength, Pakistan are still considered among the top T20 teams in the world.

Babar Azam will return to the side after missing the New Zealand series through injury. He should come in for Khushdil Shah in the middle order.

Top run scorer against New Zealand, Mohammad Hafeez has been left out of the Pakistan squad. This is reportedly due to a disagreement over quarantine arrangements.

Other players dropped include Fakhar Zaman and Wahab Riaz while Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim were unavailable for selection.

South Africa contested just nine T20 matches in 2020, seven of which they lost. They lost their last series 3-0 to England on home soil - a series defeat which still hurts.

In their last match, South Africa batted first and scored a very good 191 runs at Newlands. Faf du Plessis scored 52 runs and Rassie van der Dussen 74 runs.

England’s response was anything but forgiving, chasing down the total with more than two overs to spare and for the loss of just one wicket. George Linde was the pick of the bowlers, going for only 26 runs in his four overs.

South Africa come into this series with a vastly different squad as most first choice players have returned home.

The visitors will be heavily reliant on players like David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Phehlukwayo and captain, Heinrich Klaasen who have plenty international experience.

We could see deubuts for the likes of Nandre Burger, Okuhle Cele, Ryan Rickelton, Jacques Snyman and Glenton Stuurman.