Pakistan defended a score of 308/9 to beat the Proteas by 36 runs in the final ODI of the season at the Wanderers on Sunday.
Captain Temba Bavuma admits the Proteas' 50-over team is "not close to where we want to be" as they look to end the series against Pakistan on a high in the annual Pink ODI at the Wanderers on Sunday.
Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter has defended his team's decision to bowl first in the second ODI at Newlands after the home side fell to a loss that condemned them to a series defeat.
In a display of sheer dominance, Pakistan clinched a decisive 81-run victory over South Africa in the second ODI at Newlands, Cape Town, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Corbin Bosch has earned a maiden call-up to the Proteas Test squad for the crucial two-match series against Pakistan that starts on Boxing Day in Centurion.
Saim Ayub scored a century and Salman Aghar put in a brilliant all-round performance to help Pakistan beat Proteas by three wickets in a nail-biting ODI that went down to the wire in Paarl on Tuesday.