Pakistan Seek Return To T20 Glory Days Against South Africa

Pakistan are hoping to turn their Twenty20 fortunes around when they take on a depleted South Africa in a three-match series starting in Lahore on Thursday. The hosts have won just one of their last e

They returned home as scheduled after the second Test to prepare for a tour by Australia, but that has now been postponed because of the critical coronavirus situation in South Africa. Still, Pakistan's bowling coach Waqar Younis refused to take the new-look South Africa side lightly.

"They are an international team and we need to play to our potential to finish a perfect season," he said.

Pakistan have left out senior batsman Mohammad Hafeez because of his commitments to the T-10 league in Abu Dhabi. He has been in supreme form recently, scoring 415 runs in 10 matches with an average of 83.00 and a strike rate of 152.57 -- the most by any player last year.

South Africa will be led by wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen, who hopes his newcomers will grab their opportunity.

"South Africa has got loads of talent, which people sometimes don't see because we only have six franchises," he said. "We are by no means a second-string T20 squad, and we are looking to win."