Babar Azam opts to field as Pakistan look to leave South Africa with two trophies

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Visitors unchanged; hosts bring in Bjorn Fortuin and Wiaan Mulder for Beuran Hendricks and Pite van Biljon

Toss Pakistan chose to bowl vs South Africa

With Pakistan looking to add the T20I series trophy to the one they won for the ODIs on this tour of South Africa, Babar Azam won the toss asked South Africa to set a target in the finale at Centurion on what both captains believe is another good pitch for batting. Heinrich Klaasen acknowledged that he would have preferred his attack to get first use of the surface to take advantage of any early assistance, but would have to hope his batsmen put the pressure on early instead.

South Africa made two changes to the XI that lost at the same venue two days ago. Left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks was omitted in favour of an extra spinner in Bjorn Fortuin, while the batting line-up has been shortened with Pite van Biljon missing out and an allrounder, Wiaan Mulder, getting his maiden T20I cap. Mulder and Andile Phehlukwayo add a third and fourth option to South Africa’s pace pack, while George Linde, who will bat at No. 5, makes up a three-pronged spin attack.

Pakistan, who took an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series by pulling off a steep chase of 204 with some comfort in the previous match, were unchanged.

South Africa: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Janneman Malan, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Heinrich Klaasen (capt, wk), 5 George Linde, 6 Andile Phehlukwayo, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Sisanda Magala, 9 Bjorn Fortuin, 10 Lizaad Williams, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi

Pakistan: 1 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 2 Babar Azam (capt), 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Haider Ali, 6 Asif Ali, 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Haris Rauf

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent

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