The IPL exodus might be a blessing for the Proteas coaching staff in assessing the quality of squad depth, as we look ahead to three World Cups in two years, writes Alasdair Fraser.

While the current train of thought is “how dare our top players shuffle to India for the IPL”, is it not the perfect opportunity to see how deep our Protea reserves go?

Ideally, it could have been an unassailable 2-0 win thus far, but that would defeat the purpose of this exercise to see the toughness our fringe players are really made of. 

There is enough quality in the remaining squad, but very little game time has been had by those players. We only saw the likes of Janneman Malan and Kyle Verreynne fire in the top order during the Proteas’ ODI whitewash over the Aussies last summer.

The indications were there that the players knocking on the door of selection were more than capable of handling a strong Aussie bowling lineup. Those indications may help the Proteas pull off an unlikely win when they head into the third and final ODI as rank outsiders.

While his antics at the top of the order will be missed, Quinton de Kock’s departure won’t be much of a disruption, given Heinrich Klaasen’s strong working relationship with coach Mark Boucher and his already proven match-winning ability as a regular in the squad.

Skipper Temba Bavuma and the likes of Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Andile Phelukwayo and Tabraiz Shamsi already bring a semblance of stability to the starting XI. But it’s the potential bowling lineup that makes for interesting reading.

Any team in the world is going to miss Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and current series leading wicket-taker Anrich Nortje. It shows how much they are valued by their respective IPL franchises, but this is the gap for blooding new players in a winner-takes-all match situation.

Much has been said about Sisanda Magala of late. His eagerness to listen to Boucher on working on a higher level of match fitness and conditioning is commendable, but it’s high time his efforts over the past two years in the domestic arena be rewarded with that elusive ODI cap.

Magala is not going anywhere soon but he needs to get that first taste of international cricket and his performances with the ball deserve a proper challenge against a more-than-decent Pakistan batting lineup – not a debut in a dead rubber ODI.

Wiaan Mulder and Lutho Sipamla have already done the business at Test level, with the former more than capable with the bat. When you consider these names, the Proteas might cause a timely upset that will shine a light on a possible starting lineup for the next three World Cups.

We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

My possible starting XI: Markram, Malan, Bavuma (c), Van der Dussen, Verreynne, Klaasen, Mulder, Phelukwayo, Magala, Sipamla, Shamsi