Match Details
Teams: Pakistan vs South Africa
Date/Time: 20 Oct, 10:00 AM IST
Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Format/Tournament: Test Match
Quick Match Preview
Recent Form
Pakistan: W L W L L (mixed, inconsistent finishes)
South Africa: L W W W (strong upswing)
H2H (recent snippets): PAK vs SA — PAK W, then two L (edge to SA recently).
Context you can use: Rawalpindi has been balanced but tends to slow down and bring spinners into play from Day 3 onwards. Pakistan’s spinners Nauman Ali (N Ali) and Sajid/S Khan have big fantasy spikes here; SA’s pace battery still threatens with the new ball (Rabada, Jansen), while Wiaan Mulder and Senuran Muthusamy offer all-rounder stability.
Win Probability (modelled from recent form, H2H, venue & toss trend)
Team | Base | If Bat 1st | If Bowl 1st |
|---|---|---|---|
Pakistan | 48% | 51% | 45% |
South Africa | 52% | 49% | 55% |
Toss tilt at Rawalpindi: Captains have chosen to chase ~70% of the time, with ~90% wins while chasing at this venue. Expect a small edge to the side bowling first if overheads help the new ball.
Pitch & Venue Analysis — Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Type: Balanced surface; even selection of batters and bowlers recommended.
Avg 1st Inns: ~295 | Avg wickets/inns: ~8
Pace vs Spin (fantasy impact): Spin 3.9 fpts/over vs Pace 3.4 fpts/over (slight bias to spin as game wears on).
Ground Dimensions: ~75m square, 80m straight.
Toss Trends: Choose to chase ~70%; Wins chasing ~90% (venue history).
Venue Fantasy Nuggets
Top venue performers (recent matches here):
M Rizwan – avg 154 (3 matches)
S Shakeel – avg 111 (3)
Agha Salman – avg 76 (3)
S Masood – avg 67 (3)
Captaincy sightings at venue: S Khan & N Ali (both once), M Rizwan (once).
Form & Fantasy Points Snapshot (Last matches window)
Pakistan — Last 5 Match Fantasy Points
Player | Role | Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 | Match 4 | Match 5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N Ali | Bowler | 261 | 224 | 157 | 237 | 242 | 1121 |
S Khan | Bowler | 121 | 169 | 235 | 298 | 221 | 1044 |
M Rizwan | WK | 153 | 119 | 114 | 145 | 92 | 623 |
S Masood | Batter | 153 | 30 | 78 | 176 | 55 | 492 |
B Azam | Batter | 117 | 62 | 17 | 176 | 80 | 452 |
Agha Salman | All-rounder | 211 | 37 | 37 | 127 | 33 | 445 |
S Afridi | Bowler | 139 | 61 | 72 | 129 | 44 | 445 |
S Shakeel | All-rounder | 70 | 52 | 100 | 23 | 121 | 366 |
I ul Haq | Batter | 139 | 27 | 108 | 30 | 35 | 339 |
A Shafique | Batter | 75 | 24 | 40 | 124 | 11 | 274 |
H Ali | Bowler | 4 | 9 | 38 | 60 | 31 | 142 |
South Africa — Last 5 Match Fantasy Points
Player | Role | Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 | Match 4 | Match 5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W Mulder | All-rounder | 37 | 703 | 372 | 93 | 46 | 1251 |
S Muthusamy | All-rounder | 321 | 68 | 4 | 193 | 19 | 605 |
A Markram | Batter | 39 | 252 | 21 | 55 | 179 | 546 |
K Rabada | Bowler | 60 | 193 | 20 | 114 | 110 | 497 |
S Harmer | Bowler | 177 | 114 | 55 | 44 | 39 | 429 |
R Rickelton | WK | 196 | 42 | 118 | 306 | 34 | 696 |
K Verreynne | WK | 49 | 100 | 150 | 53 | 17 | 369 |
T de Zorzi | Batter | 200 | 22 | 71 | 52 | 8 | 353 |
D Brevis | Batter | 106 | 70 | 118 | — | — | 294 (3 matches) |
T Stubbs | Batter | 22 | 14 | 92 | 8 | 32 | 168 |
P Subrayen | Bowler | 68 | 80 | — | — | — | 148 (2 matches) |
Phase Impact (Test Tweaks)
New Ball (0–20 overs)
Pakistan: S Afridi (left-arm angle), N Ali can attack if early grip, Rizwan safe glovework = catch points.
South Africa: Rabada & Jansen — wicket-bursts; Mulder chips in control overs + lower-order runs.
Old Ball / Day 3–5 (Spin time)
Pakistan: N Ali & S Khan are major wicket threats on wearing surface.
South Africa: Muthusamy (containment + breakthroughs); Harmer if selected adds high-ceiling off-spin.
MVP Picks (Safe Core)
N Ali (PAK, BOW): Massive recent average; proven venue & H2H spikes; Day 3–5 monster.
W Mulder (SA, AR): Dual points (overs + runs); steady floor through match.
M Rizwan (PAK, WK): High venue average; catch+bat combo, rarely blanks in Tests.
K Rabada (SA, BOW): New-ball strike weapon; can run through top-order if early movement.
Differential Picks (High Upside)
S Khan (PAK, BOW): If selected, fourth-innings upside is huge on this deck.
S Muthusamy (SA, AR): Long-bowling spells + gritty 30-50s.
R Rickelton (SA, WK): Purple patch; plays spin well.
Agha Salman (PAK, AR): Middle-order glue + handy off-spin; venue returns are solid.
T de Zorzi / A Markram (SA, BAT): Technique vs new ball; Markram carries ceiling from H2H data.
Suggested Dream11 Team (Small League)
WK (2): M Rizwan, R Rickelton
BAT (3): B Azam, S Masood, A Markram
AR (2): W Mulder, Agha Salman (Alt: S Muthusamy if SA go double-spin)
BOWL (4): N Ali, S Khan, K Rabada, S Afridi
Captain (C): N Ali
Vice-Captain (VC): W Mulder
Alt C/VC: M Rizwan / K Rabada (conditions dependent)
Team balance: PAK 7 / SA 4 (leans into spin dominance at venue while keeping SA’s strike pace).
Final Fantasy Tips & Toss/Conditionals
If Pakistan bat first:
Expect Rizwan, Babar, Masood to set base; N Ali/S Khan gain later.
C/VC: N Ali / Rizwan. Keep Rabada for early breakthroughs.
If South Africa bowl first:
Boost Rabada/Jansen exposure; consider Muthusamy if surface looks dry.
C/VC: Rabada / Mulder.
If the pitch looks drier than usual at toss:
Bring in Muthusamy (for an SA bat) or Harmer (if picked).
Keep both N Ali and S Khan.
If overheads suggest early swing:
Prioritize S Afridi + Rabada; VC on a pacer becomes viable.
Grand League punts:
C Bosch (if selected) — small-sample, big recent returns.
T de Zorzi vs the new ball;
S Harmer (if XI confirms double spin for SA).
Playing XI not announced yet — re-check at toss for:
SA spin combo (Muthusamy/Harmer) vs extra seamer.
Pakistan’s exact spin pair (N Ali/S Khan) and whether both play.
Good luck—build around spin supremacy late and new-ball strike early, and you’ll cover both ends of Rawalpindi’s story.