Preview: Do-or-die clash for Pakistan as they take on South Africa

Pakistan take on unbeaten South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday. Pakistan lost to India and Zimbabwe in the first two matches of the tournament. South African middle order is arguably the best in this tournament and has stepped up more than once already. The spin duo of Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan will hope to stifle South Africans' charge in middle overs. Pakistan's reliance on high pace could backfire against SouthAfrica. They need to dent South's attack early. It's their best bet. Their last two games have been narrow victories. This is not how Pakistan would have planned their tournament to go.

Pakistan's predicted XI: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hari Rauf, Naseem Shah.

South Africa's team: Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.

David Miller is one of the best finishers in the world. South Africa will need him to step up again against a quality bowling attack.

Pakistan take on South Africa in a do-or-die match. Babar Azam needs to step up his game to counter the South African attack.

Rilee Rossouw scored his second T20I ton of the year against Bangladesh. He has scored 340 runs for South Africa in eight T 20Is at a strike rate of 182.8. Rossuw got out for a two-ball duck against India in his most recent match. Pakistan take on South African in a do-or-die match on Sunday.

Anrich Nortje has taken six wickets at an average of 7.17 in three T20 World Cup 2022 games. He took four wicket in Sydney to help South Africa to a 104-run victory over Bangladesh. Norteje made his T-20I debut in 2019 and has been a part of 27 matches.

Mohammad Nawaz has taken two wickets in the tournament so far. He conceded 42 runs against India and bowled a wicketless two-over spell against Netherlands. With the bat, he has scored 31 runs in a couple of innings. Nawas has represented Pakistan in 51 T20Is, taking 46 wockels at a strike rate of 21.3 and 385 runs at an average of 18.33. Pakistan take on South Africa in their next match.