Fresh from their 2-0 win against Zimbabwe in the one-day series, Pakistan will now meet South Africa on Friday in the opening game of the Triangular Series at Kingsmead, Sri Lanka being the third team in the tournament.
Each team will play the other thrice before the final on April 22 at Newlands in Capetown. At Kingsmead, Pakistan still remain unbeaten in a Test or in a one-day game. In 1993 Pakistan notched upon astonishing 10-wicket victory over South Africa in the Triangular Series which then involved the West Indies.
Waqar Younis with five for 25 had destroyed South Africa at a time when things had started to look gloomy for the visitors.
In the Mandela Trophy in 1994-95 Pakistan also squandered the opportunity of winning the trophy having reached the finals and then losing their way through dissension in the team.
Recently, however, Pakistan has not been one of the best one-day teams around.
In the Golden Jubilee matches at home also Pakistan had to end at the bottom of the table. This, however, is a different tournament altogether and Pakistan is looking forward to perform a lot better and start with a clean slate.
Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hussain have done well in the matches against Zimbabwe only a few days ago and are likely to be in the team with Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Azhar Mahmood to strengthen the bowling.
The batting is fragile and on this tour it has disappointed everyone. Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmed, Yousaf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Moin Khan and Rashid Latif will fill in the batting positions.
The final selection is to be made on the morning of the match. The South Africans have recalled Herschelle Gibbs, Jonty Rhodes, Pat Symcox, Derek Crookes and Mike Rindel and have added new caps Steve Elworthy and Roger Telemachus in the 15 man team. They are all considered to be one-day specialists.
With Gary Kirsten, Daryll Cullinan, Jacque Kallis, Mark Boucher and Hansie Cronje, the batting line-up at least on paper would appear formidable.
Shaun Pollock as an all-rounder also adds new dimension to the side which has been bubbling with a win in the Test series against Sri Lanka, the World Cup champions, will of course, pose a lot of threat to both Pakistan and South Africa.