CAPE TOWN: Pakistan and South Africa will face each other in the fifth and final One Day International (ODI) match in Cape Town today (Wednesday).
Green shirts and Proteas will head face to face each other in series decider match.
South Africa versus Pakistan one-day international (ODI) series has turned out to be a memorable one as the five-match series is already tied at 2-2.
Du Plessis says although it is a ‘must-win’ match, he has urged his players to prepare for the match like they would for any international.
“For me it is about finding out how we play the big games,” he said to the media at Newlands on Tuesday.
“You don’t want to make it any bigger than it is. It is obviously a big game but sometimes when we do make it a big thing we don’t always bring our best as a team. For me it is about freeing up the guys and to allow them to go out there and express themselves in any way they want.
“We don’t want them to see it as a big game where they have to play differently. In the last two years we have played well in these scenarios and we want to test ourselves every time there is a series-decider.”
South Africa will be hoping for some better performances from veteran cricketers including Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis.
The only player to have not featured in the series is Aiden Markram and could be given go-ahead instead of Hashim Amla, who could rest after a hectic few months.
For Pakistan, after an astounding win in the Pink ODI, the team will be tempted under the captaincy of Shoaib Malik leading the side in the absence of regular captain, Sarfraz Ahmed.
Squads
South Africa
Faf du Plessis(C), Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Beuran Hendricks, Dale Steyn, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen.
Pakistan
Shoaib Malik (C), Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, , M Hafeez, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, M Amir, Imam-ul-Haq, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Shinwari, Imad Wasim, M Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Shadab Khan