Pakistan wait on Asif's fitness

South Africa's ODI squad has been strengthened by the inclusion of Albie Morkel © Getty Images

After an attritional Test series - with sub-standard pitches and sweltering conditions being assigned majority of the blame - Pakistan and South Africa embark upon a five-match ODI series beginning in Lahore. Expect a lot of changes in the middle, bar the weather, as the teams swap their whites for the traditional greens. There will be a marked increase in crowd figures as the Lahore pitch is expected to be a nightmare for the bowlers.

Brimming with confidence after a salutary performance at the ICC World Twenty20, Pakistan will go into the series hoping to have shrugged aside their Test defeat. It is their first 50-over series since May and Shoaib Malik, whose captaincy was found lacking in decision-making and strategy during the Tests has impressed in the shorter format.

"We need to put the Test series loss behind us and I know all the players are professional and know their responsibilities, so I am confident of a good show," Malik said.

Although Mohammad Asif remains doubtful for the match, Pakistan will hope to avail of the Afridi-factor that was sorely missed in the Tests. Having opted out of the matches due to religious commitments, Shahid Afridi returns to the squad and along with Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan's hero in the ICC World Twenty20, will form a destructive partnership in the final overs. Mohammad Yousuf will also hope to make his comeback after being dropped from the tournament in South Africa and add firepower to the middle order.

Iftikhar Anjum is set to be used first-change behind Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir, Pakistan's surprise package in South Africa, if Asif fails the fitness test before the match. With the home side relying on the spin of Afridi and Malik, Abdur Rehman, who had a successful Test series, was likely to miss out.

South Africa, meanwhile, have sent back Paul Harris, the highest wicket-taker in the Tests, but their line-up now includes Justin Kemp and Albie Morkel, two powerful hitters who also pitch in with the ball. Graeme Smith, who's wary of Pakistan's success at Twenty20, is confident of a good show.

Mohammad Yousuf's return will bolster the Pakistan middle order © Getty Images

"Pakistan's confidence will be high after their recent success in the Twenty20 tournament. But obviously it's another challenge for their captain and we will try to put them under pressure," Smith said.

Barring an injury to Vernon Philander, who replaced the injured Morne Morkel half-way through the first Test, the rest of the squad looks in good shape especially after thrashing the PCB XI in their only tour-match before the ODI series. Although there were complaints of a congested itinerary, mainly due to security concerns on the tourists' part, Smith feels the Test victory has helped his side.

"We are pretty confident after the rush start to the tour. It was nice to have a good rest and we are going into the one-day series knowing we have the potential to do well."

Potential is one word that South Africa somehow manages to defy at crucial moments and, although, history favours the tourists - who've won seven of the last 10 ODIs between these two teams - Pakistan were victorious in the two encounters at Lahore when South Africa last visited.

Teams

Pakistan (probable): 1 Imran Nazir, 2 Salman Butt, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Shoaib Malik (capt), 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Misbah-ul-Haq, 8 Kamran Akmal (wk), 9 Sohail Tanvir, 10 Iftikhar Anjum, 11 Umar Gul.

South Africa (probable): 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 Justin Kemp, 6 Albie Morkel, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Shaun Pollock, 9 Andre Nel, 10 Johan Botha, 11 Makhaya Ntini.