The arrival of Heinrich Klaasen and Keshav Maharaj in Karachi will provide a timely boost for the Proteas before their clash with Pakistan on Wednesday.
With more than 100 ODI caps between them, the pair will add much-needed experience to a SA team that gave an honest account of themselves in the first match of the triangular series against New Zealand on Monday, but ultimately came up short.
Maharaj and Klaasen were given a few extra days off to be with their families before they boarded a plane for Pakistan, so missed Monday’s six-wicket defeat in Lahore.
Klaasen admitted that because of the travel he didn’t watch that match, in which Matthew Breetzke made the highest score on debut in an ODI. “We are in a unique situation on this tour. A lot of guys got an opportunity Monday and they played well,” said Klaasen.
“I didn’t watch much of it so I can’t comment on the mistakes the guys made, but we saw some quality play from the youngsters.”
SA need to win on Wednesday to secure a place in the final, which will be against New Zealand on Friday. “If we can knock [Pakistan] out and play in the final and the home country is not involved, that will at least put a smile on my face,” Klaasen said.
Pakistan won all three matches in the series the most recent time the two teams met in the ODI format. They dominated all three matches, with left-hand opener Saim Ayub announcing himself as a future star of the international game. Unfortunately for Saim and Pakistan, he broke his ankle on the first morning of the second Test at Newlands and is missing the triangular series and the ICC Champions Trophy, which starts next week.