Tag: PAK vs SA

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has reportedly declined to sign his central contract, making him the only player among the 30 contracted cricketers who has yet to do so, sources revealed on Tuesday.

According to details, all other players have signed their respective contracts, but Rizwan has withheld his signature after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allegedly turned down a few of his personal demands.

“There’s currently no indication that the PCB will revisit Rizwan’s requests,” said one source familiar with the development.

For the unversed, Rizwan was included in Category B of the new central contracts, which also features nine other players, including star batter Babar Azam.

Notably, no cricketer was placed in Category A this time around.

The development comes shortly after Rizwan’s removal as Pakistan’s ODI captain, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking charge ahead of the upcoming home series against South Africa.

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Mohammad Rizwan was appointed Pakistan’s white-ball captain in October 2024, replacing Babar Azam.

He initially impressed with a series of strong results, including ODI series victories against Australia and South Africa away from home.

However, his stint in the T20I format faltered as Pakistan lost all four matches under his leadership, prompting the PCB to strip him of that role while retaining him as ODI captain.

His ODI captaincy tenure also came under scrutiny after Pakistan failed to qualify for the knockout stage of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, followed by a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand and a 2-1 series defeat to the West Indies.

In total, Rizwan captained Pakistan in 20 ODIs, winning nine and losing 11, finishing with a 45% win ratio.

READ: Suryakumar Yadav provides update on Shreyas Iyer’s injury

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has unveiled his predicted playing XI for the national team’s opening T20I against South Africa, scheduled later today at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Akmal announced his playing XI on his official X account, featuring uncapped spin bowler Usman Tariq and excluding leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed from the lineup.

He also included pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr, who has featured in 29 T20Is for Pakistan and claimed 36 wickets at an economy of 8.14.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

He has been part of several recent squads of Pakistan but has struggled to lock down a permanent spot in the playing XI. His last appearance came against New Zealand in Christchurch in January 2024.

Tariq has garnered attention for his impressive performances in franchise leagues. He represented the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he took 12 wickets in 10 matches.

Following that, he made a strong impact in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets in 10 matches for the champion team, Trinbago Knight Riders.

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Akmal’s predicted XI also includes Babar Azam, who is set to make his long-awaited return to international cricket.

The prolific right-hander stands just shy of surpassing India’s Rohit Sharma to become the leading run-scorer in T20I history.

Kamran Akmal’s predicted XI for the first T20I

Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha (c), Hassan Nawaz, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Usman Tariq.

READ: Rizwan looks forward to ‘competitive’ BBL stint with Melbourne Renegades

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has revealed the reason behind the selection of wicket-keeper batter Usman Khan in the national team for the three-match T20I series against South Africa.

The first T20I match will begin tomorrow at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Usman Khan, who averages 14.93 with the bat in 19 T20Is, last appeared in the format against New Zealand on March 26, 2025.

Speaking ahead of the opening T20I, Salman shed light on the inclusion of Usman, mentioning the batting in the middle orders. He also emphasized his record in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

“We wanted a keeper who could bat in the middle order and handle the middle overs, particularly against spin. We think that since we’re going to Sri Lanka soon, and even before that, we’ll face a lot of spin in the middle overs,” he said.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

“And you can say, you must have seen in the PSL [Pakistan Super League], his international record isn’t that great, but in the PSL, he bats really well against spin in the middle overs.”

Regarding the team’s momentum, the skipper highlighted the Asia Cup 2025 and tri-nation series, noting that they have learned valuable lessons from their mistakes.

“We’ll continue from where our journey left off. We learned a lot from the Asia Cup and the tri-nation series before that. We’ve picked up a lot from those games. We’ll try to fix the mistakes we made and work on overcoming them in the upcoming series, keeping our World Cup preparation on point,” Salman explained.

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“We need to quickly cut down on our mistakes, especially the ones that keep happening again and again, because they shouldn’t be happening,” he continued.

The 31-year-old mentioned modern-day cricket and emphasized that they do not aim for high scores, but rather evaluate the situation at hand.

“Cricket has definitely gotten faster, but as you saw, we just came back from the Asia Cup, and those pitches didn’t really favor scores of 180 or 190. We don’t blindly aim for 180 or 190; we look at the situation,” Salman concluded.

READ: ‘We can beat any side’: Salman Ali Agha confident ahead of South Africa series

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has opened up on the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris from the T20I squad for the series against South Africa.

The 24-year-old, who debuted in 2022, has featured in 35 T20Is, scoring 555 runs at an average of 17.34, including one century and a fifty.

He was part of the Pakistan squad in the recent ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025, where he began brightly with a half-century against Oman but could not sustain his form, finishing the tournament with 131 runs in six innings at 21.83.

Mike Hesson, while speaking to reporters at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, said Haris had been given “ample opportunities” to cement his place in the national side but failed to make them count.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

“Mohammad Haris has had plenty of chances, and even he would admit he hasn’t made the most of them,” Hesson remarked.

He also advised the wicketkeeper-batter to focus on improving his decision-making when playing his shots.

“I wouldn’t say his career is over, but he needs to improve his decision-making with the bat. Even in domestic cricket, his batting average is around 17, the same as in international cricket,” he added.

Notably, Haris has now been replaced by Usman Khan, who returns to the side after last playing in the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year.

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Hesson explained that Usman’s inclusion was based on conditions and team balance ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

“Usman Khan is a very good player of spin,” Hesson said.

“We see a wicketkeeper batting more through the middle than at the top, and with the World Cup in Sri Lanka, handling spin will be crucial. That’s why Usman was given the opportunity.”

Usman, who has represented Pakistan in 19 T20Is, has 239 runs at an average of 14.93 and a strike rate of 121.93, with one half-century to his name.

READ: PCB reveals pink kit for first T20I against South Africa

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled a special pink-themed kit for the first T20I against South Africa, set to take place on October 28, as part of its initiative to raise awareness about breast cancer.

The Pakistan men’s team will set aside their iconic green jerseys and take the field in a pink outfit, symbolising solidarity with breast cancer awareness efforts.

The PCB revealed the striking new look through its official social media platforms, showcasing multiple players donning the pink kits.

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“Turning pink for a cause that matters,” the PCB stated on social media.

“Pakistan players to wear pink-themed kits in the first #PAKvSA T20I to raise awareness about breast cancer, as part of the #PINKtober initiative.”

 

Moreover, South African cricketers, match officials, commentators, and broadcasters will also join the cause by wearing pink ribbons throughout the match.

Pink-branded stumps will be used during the fixture, while awareness messages and visuals will be displayed across the live broadcast.

The initiative is being launched in collaboration with the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Trust Hospital, based in Lahore, which will offer free clinical examinations and screenings for visitors on the same day.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed said the campaign reflects the power of cricket to drive social awareness and change.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board takes immense pride in using the power and reach of cricket to create awareness about causes that affect our society,” Syed said.

“Through the Pink Ribbon campaign, we aim to highlight the importance of early detection and regular screening for breast cancer, which can save countless lives.”

READ: Babar Azam set to dethrone Rohit Sharma in T20Is

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has revealed the batting position of Babar Azam in the forthcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa.

Babar has returned to the limited-overs side, having last played against South Africa in 2024.

Speaking ahead of the first T20I, Hesson reflected on the team’s combination and shared his thoughts on Babar Azam’s inclusion.

“I certainly endorse his selection, and he is likely to bat at the number three, and I am hoping that he will do well,” Hesson revealed.

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The head coach also revealed the reasons behind the exclusion of Mohammad Haris and Fakhar Zaman from the T20I squad.

“Fakhar has been rested so that he returns fresh for the ODIs.” “We gave Mohammad Haris several opportunities, but he couldn’t make the most of them. He is a young player and needs to improve his batting in domestic cricket,” Hesson remarked.

“Usman Khan plays spin well, which will be an advantage in Sri Lanka,” he added.

Hesson further praised South Africa as a formidable opponent and highlighted the squad’s preparedness for the upcoming challenges.

Hesson further hailed South Africa as a challenging opponent and highlighted the squad’s preparedness for the upcoming challenges.

“South Africa are a dangerous side.” “The team that lost to Namibia was a different one.” “We already have 15 players in mind for the World Cup, with competition for one or two spots,” he concluded.

For the unversed, the T20I series will begin on October 28 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, followed by the remaining two matches held on October 31 and November 2 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

South Africa Squad

T20I squad: Donovan Ferreira (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Matthew Breetzke, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tony de Zorzi, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams.

Pakistan Squad

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper), Usman Tariq

READ: Women’s World Cup: New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine retires from ODIs

RAWALPINDI: The trophy for the three-match T20I series between Pakistan and South Africa has been unveiled here on Sunday.

Both captains, Salman Ali Agha of Pakistan and South Africa’s stand-in skipper, Donovan Ferreira, posed with the trophy.

The Proteas will enter the field without their key player, David Miller, who was ruled out of the tour due to an injury. Miller was previously named as the captain for the Pakistan tour.

The T20I series will begin on October 28 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, followed by the remaining two matches held on October 31 and November 2 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

Notably, Pakistan will wear a special pink-themed kit in the opening T20I against as part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) initiative to support breast cancer awareness.

The home side will sport specially designed pink-themed kits, while South Africa’s players and match officials will wear pink ribbons in solidarity.

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Following the T20I series, the tour will then shift to Faisalabad, where both teams will contest a three-match ODI series from November 4 to 8 at the Iqbal Stadium, marking the city’s first international fixture in over 17 years.

For the unversed, Faisalabad last hosted an ODI on April 11, 2008, when Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets.

South Africa Squad

T20I squad: Donovan Ferreira (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Matthew Breetzke, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tony de Zorzi, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams.

Pakistan Squad

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper), Usman Tariq

Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Moqim

READ: Women’s World Cup: England thrash New Zealand in final group match

RAWALPINDI: The South Africa T20I squad has arrived here on Friday ahead of their three-match series against Pakistan, set to begin on October 28 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the team’s arrival through a video shared on its official social media channels, showing Proteas players checking into their hotel ahead of the series opener.

🛬 South Africa T20I team arrives in Pakistan ahead of the 3-match series starting 28 Oct in Rawalpindi 🏏#PAKvSA | #GreenPeYaqeen | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/P5SGprRAU3

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 24, 2025

However, the visitors’ preparations have been dented by injuries to two key players, experienced batter David Miller and pacer Gerald Coetzee, both of whom have been ruled out of the white-ball series.

According to Cricket South Africa (CSA), Miller, who was slated to captain the side in the T20I series, sustained a grade one right hamstring strain. Scans conducted earlier this week confirmed the injury, forcing him to withdraw from the tour.

Meanwhile, Coetzee suffered a pectoral muscle injury during South Africa’s one-off T20I against Namibia earlier this month, ruling him out of both the ODI and T20I series.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

In response, CSA has made several changes to the touring party.

Matthew Breetzke and uncapped Tony de Zorzi have been drafted into the T20I squad, while Donovan Ferreira will lead the side in Miller’s absence.

Additionally, Ottneil Baartman has been named as Coetzee’s replacement in the ODI squad.

Following the Rawalpindi opener, the second and third T20Is will take place at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on October 31 and November 1, respectively.

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The tour will then shift to Faisalabad, where both teams will contest a three-match ODI series from November 4 to 8 at the Iqbal Stadium, marking the city’s first international fixture in over 17 years.

Faisalabad last hosted an ODI on April 11, 2008, when Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets.

Updated South Africa squads for Pakistan tour

T20I squad: Donovan Ferreira (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Matthew Breetzke, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tony de Zorzi, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams.

ODI squad: Matthew Breetzke (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile.

READ: Pakistan to don special kit in first T20I against South Africa

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan men’s cricket team will wear a special pink-themed kit in the opening T20I against South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 28, as part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) initiative to support breast cancer awareness.

The PCB announced that the entire stadium will “turn pink” for the occasion, with the initiative held in collaboration with Pink Ribbon Pakistan as part of the board’s corporate social responsibility programme.

“The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will turn pink on 28 October when Pakistan take on South Africa in the first T20I of the three-match series,” the PCB said in a statement.

“As part of its corporate social responsibility, the Pakistan Cricket Board is supporting Pink Ribbon Pakistan to create awareness about breast cancer.”

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The home side will sport specially designed pink-themed kits, while South Africa’s players and match officials will wear pink ribbons in solidarity.

Coaching staff, commentators, and broadcasters will also participate by wearing pink ribbons throughout the match.

To further amplify the message, pink-branded stumps will be used for the fixture, and awareness messages will be shared during the live broadcast.

In partnership with the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Trust Hospital located at Kalma Chowk, Lahore, visitors will be offered free clinical examinations and screenings on the same day.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed said the campaign reflects cricket’s ability to inspire social change.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board takes immense pride in using the power and reach of cricket to create awareness about causes that affect our society,” he said.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

“Through the Pink Ribbon campaign, we aim to highlight the importance of early detection and regular screening for breast cancer, which can save countless lives.

“This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility, and we are grateful to both teams, match officials, broadcasters and fans for joining hands in supporting this vital cause.”

Pink Ribbon CEO Umar Aftab also lauded the PCB’s efforts, calling the collaboration a significant step in raising national awareness.

“We are grateful to the Pakistan Cricket Board for supporting Pink Ribbon through this special cricket match,” he said.

“This collaboration aims to raise national awareness about breast cancer and highlight the importance of early detection.”

“Cricket unites our nation, and today, it’s uniting us for a life-saving cause.”

READ: Afghanistan fined for slow over-rate in Zimbabwe Test

South Africa suffered a major setback ahead of the white-ball series against Pakistan, as stand-in T20I skipper David Miller and all-rounder Gerald Coetzee have been ruled out due to injuries.

Miller was ruled out of the tour due to a hamstring strain, scans revealing a grade one tear. He will miss the tour and undergo a rehabilitation program.

Meanwhile, Donovan Ferreira, who captained South Africa in the one-off T20I in Namibia, will lead them in the format.

All-rounder Coetzee, who was included in both T20I and ODI squads, is also out of the tour after a pectoral muscle injury. The 25-year-old will undergo a rehab program. Ottniel Baartman has been named as his replacement in the ODIs.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

Following the injuries, Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi, who are yet to play in T20Is, have been added to the squad.

The T20I series will commence on October 28 in Rawalpindi, followed by two matches in Lahore on October 31 and November 1.

South Africa Updated Squad

T20I squad: Donovan Ferreira (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, and Lizaad Williams

ODI squad: Matthew Breetzke (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, and Lizaad Williams

South Africa Tour of Pakistan

October 28 — First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

October 31 — Second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

November 1 — Third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

November 4 — First ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

November 6 — Second ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

November 8 — Third ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

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