With three consecutive defeats in the ICC World Cup 2023, Babar Azam finds himself on the precipice of losing his captaincy. Pakistan faces a high-stakes showdown against South Africa, a do-or-die battle that could decide Babar’s fate as captain. A fourth loss would effectively shut the door on their campaign, even if they manage to win their remaining three games.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a statement, emphasizing that decisions about the team’s future will be based on performance in the World Cup. The pressure on Babar and the team is immense, and their comeback in the tournament is crucial.

Pakistan now must secure victories in all their remaining matches and hope for Australia to stumble in at least two of their remaining four games. The unpredictability of Pakistan’s performance is well-known in cricket. They can showcase brilliance one day and falter the next, leaving fans and themselves perplexed.

For Pakistan to make a comeback in the World Cup, they need a gutsy and outstanding performance, especially against a formidable South African team.

The performance gap between the two teams has been significant, with South African batsmen consistently hitting boundaries while Pakistan has struggled in that department. Pakistan’s batting approach has left them in a dire situation at the halfway point of the league stage.

Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, have been inconsistent, and the absence of Naseem Shah has been felt. Hasan Ali’s lack of penetration in ODIs has raised concerns, suggesting the need for new bowling options.

The lack of quality spinners is a significant weakness for Pakistan, and playing leg-spinner Usama Mir in both games has backfired. Shadab Khan’s ordinary performance further highlights their spin bowling concerns.

In contrast, South Africa has excelled in both batting and bowling. Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, and others have been in excellent form, making South Africa a strong contender for the semi-finals.

In their head-to-head record, South Africa has a dominant 51-30 lead in 82 clashes.

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