Tag: Pakistan vs South Africa

PAARL: Saim Ayub scored his second century, while Salman Ali Agha showcased his all-round brilliance to lead Pakistan to a thrilling victory in the first ODI of the three-match series against South Africa here at Boland Park on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 240, the visiting team successfully achieved the total with three balls to spare and took a 1-0 lead in the series.

Salman Ali Agha, after taking four wickets in the first innings, played a calm and composed knock of 82* in 90 balls with the help of six boundaries, which included two sixes.

The right-hander came out to bat with Pakistan struggling at 60-4 and formed a solid partnership of 141 runs with opening batter Saim Ayub.

They took Pakistan’s total to 201 before Kagiso Rabada broke the partnership with the wicket of Saim, who scored 109 runs from 119 balls with the help of ten boundaries and three sixes.

Pakistan lost two more wickets in quick succession before Naseem Shah (9*) joined Salman and they constructed an unbeaten 33-run stand to take their team across the line.

For South Africa, Rabada and Ottneil Baartman took two wickets each, while Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi bagged one each.

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Earlier, South Africa’s stand-in captain Aiden Markram chose to bat first after winning the coin toss against Pakistan’s formidable bowling attack.

The decision seemed to bore fruits initially as Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton built a 70-run opening stand in 59 balls before Salman Ali Agha turned things around with his off-spin bowling.

De Zorzi scored 33 off 25 with the help of six boundaries, while Rickelton struck seven fours on his way to a 38-ball 36.

Salman removed both batters in successive overs, followed by the wickets of Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs (1) in his fourth over to leave South Africa reeling at 88-4.

Markram (35) and Heinrich Klaasen then joined hands to take the hosts out of the trouble with a 73-run stand for the fifth wicket before Saim Ayub broke the budding partnership.

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Klaasen then waged a lone war, playing a brilliant knock of 86 runs from 97 balls, which featured seven fours and two sixes, to take his team’s total beyond the 200-run mark.

Shaheen Shah Afridi ended Klaasen’s knock before Kagiso Rabada (11) and Ottneil Baartman (10*) added crucial 21 runs for the ninth wicket.

Rabada got run out on the last ball of the innings as South Africa finished with 239-9.

Salman Ali Agha led Pakistan’s bowling attack with his figures of 4-32, while Abrar Ahmed took two wickets.

Pakistan Playing XI: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf

South Africa Playing XI: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Ottneil Baartman, Tabraiz Shamsi

READ: Babar Azam eyes major milestones during South Africa ODIs

PAARL: South Africa have won the toss and opted to bat first in the first ODI of the three-match series against Pakistan at Boland Park here on Tuesday.

PLAYING XIs

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has been rested and Aiden Markram is leading the team in his absence. Meanwhile, Keshav Maharaj, who was initially named in the Playing XI had a late niggle and was replaced by Andile Phehlukwayo.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s star players Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who missed the tour of Zimbabwe, have been returned to the side.

Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed, who made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe last month, has been selected as the sole spinner in the Playing XI

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Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf

South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Ottneil Baartman, Tabraiz Shamsi

HEAD TO HEAD

Pakistan and South Africa have played a total of 83 matches, with South Africa leading the head-to-head with 52 victories. Pakistan has won 30 matches, while one match ended without a result.

Matches 83, Pakistan 30, South Africa 52, NR 1

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It’s worth noting that after the series opener today, Pakistan and South Africa will play subsequent ODIs in Cape Town and Johannesburg on December 19 and 22 respectively.

Meanwhile, the two-match Test series will kick off in Centurion on December 26, followed by the second Test in Cape Town, starting from January 3.

READ: Babar Azam eyes major milestones during South Africa ODIs

PAARL: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the Playing XI for the first ODI of the three-match series against South Africa, scheduled to be played at Boland Park here on 17 December.

Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub will open the innings for Pakistan, while star batter Babar Azam, who rested during the ODI series against Zimbabwe, has returned to his usual number three spot.

Skipper Mohammad Rizwan, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha and Muhammad Irfan Khan will follow in the subsequent batting positions.

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Abrar Ahmed, who made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe last month, has been selected as the sole spinner in the Playing XI, while Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf will form the pace attack of Pakistan in the series-opener against South Africa.

It’s worth noting that South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma is set to miss the first ODI and Aiden Markram will lead the team in his absence.

Bavuma has been rested to manage his workload ahead of the crucial two-match Test series against Pakistan. However, he is likely to feature in the next two ODIs.

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It’s worth noting that after the series opener today, Pakistan and South Africa will play subsequent ODIs in Cape Town and Johannesburg on December 19 and 22 respectively.

Meanwhile, the two-match Test series will kick off in Centurion on December 26, followed by the second Test in Cape Town, starting from January 3.

Pakistan Playing XI: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf

READ: South Africa captain to miss first ODI against Pakistan, replacement named

Former Australia pace bowler Jason Gillespie recently shared his experience of working with star batter Babar Azam during his tenure as the red-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team.

Gillespie was appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in April 2024 for a two-year period. However, last week he stepped down from the role unexpectedly ahead of the much-awaited Test series against South Africa.

After his sudden departure, he made shocking revelations about his time with the Green Shirts during an interview with Australian media. However, he heaped high praise on Babar, despite the right-handed batter’s below-par form during Gillespie’s tenure.

“Babar is a very driven individual. He works so hard on his game; he’s an elite player. A fantastic player, one of the best players I’ve been fortunate enough to work with,” he stated.

Jason Gillespie highlighted Babar’s intense dedication during practice sessions, noting that he consistently pushes himself to meet high training standards.

“I really enjoyed working with him. He sets high standards, not only for himself but also for his teammates,” he added.

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“It’s almost like he expects the same standards of everyone that he sets himself. He trains incredibly hard and keeps himself incredibly fit, robust, and strong.

“He works tirelessly on his game, whether it be his batting, his fielding, or even his offices [off-spin bowling] in case he’s called up to bowl. He’s a great cricket tragic and a great team man who works incredibly hard.”

When questioned about the circumstances surrounding Babar’s removal from the Test team during his tenure,

Gillespie clarified that he played no role in the decision to drop Babar Azam after the first Test against England. He emphasized that this decision was entirely made by the selection committee without his input.

“The decision was made by the selectors [to drop him], I had been removed from that process, and the decision was made to not play him [against England],” he concluded.

It’s worth noting that Jason Gillespie started his tenure as Pakistan head coach with the home Test series defeat against Bangladesh. However, in his second assignment, Pakistan bounced back and defeated England 2-1.

READ: South Africa captain to miss first ODI against Pakistan, replacement named

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma is set to miss the first ODI of the three-match series against Pakistan, scheduled later today in Paarl, and Aiden Markram will lead the team in his absence.

Bavuma has been rested to manage his workload ahead of the crucial two-match Test series against Pakistan. However, he is likely to feature in the next two ODIs.

It’s worth noting that Bavuma’s team has emerged as formidable contenders for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, currently perched at the summit of the points table after their clean sweep victory over Sri Lanka in a recent two-match Test series.

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With two crucial Tests still to be played on home turf against Pakistan, securing victories in these matches will further cement their position in the race for the final.

The decision to rest Bavuma highlights South Africa’s strategic approach to managing player workload and ensuring peak performance.

This decision was made considering the team’s preparations for major upcoming competitions, notably the highly anticipated Champions Trophy in 2025 and the critical World Test Championship matches.

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It’s worth noting that after the series opener today, Pakistan and South Africa will play subsequent ODIs in Cape Town and Johannesburg on December 19 and 22 respectively.

Meanwhile, the two-match Test series will kick off in Centurion on December 26, followed by the second Test in Cape Town, starting from January 3.

Pakistan ODI Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

South Africa ODI Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen

READ: Fakhar Zaman needs to let his bat speak: Shoaib Akhtar

PAARL: The trophy for the ODI series between Pakistan and South Africa has been unveiled on Monday here at Boland Park.

The three-match ODI series will kick off tomorrow at the same venue at 05:00 PM (PST), while the second and third fixtures are scheduled to be played at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town and The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on 17 and 19 December, respectively.

South Africa had won the T20I series 2-0 after the third T20I was washed out on 14 December.

The ODI series holds a lot of significance for both Pakistan and South Africa as they look to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in February and March 2025.

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Pakistan’s squad has been bolstered with the return of pacer Naseem Shah, opening batter Abdullah Shafique and top-order batter Kamran Ghulam while wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan have received their maiden ODI call-ups.

This will be Mohammad Rizwan’s third ODI series as skipper of the side as he has started his stint with back-to-back ODI series wins over Australia and Zimbabwe.

In their last bilateral face-off in the 50-over format, Pakistan won the three-match series 2-1 in South Africa in April 2021.

“This is a vital ODI series in terms of our preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy and with Allah’s help we will look to emulate our performances from the ODI series against Australia,” Rizwan said.

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“We couldn’t get the ideal results in the T20I series but I am really happy with some of the performances put in by our players in these conditions especially Saim’s batting was brilliant in both games.

“I see a lot of potential in our ODI squad with players young and experienced both willing to put the best step forward, which makes us an exciting prospect as a one-day side not just going into this series but also in the home tri-nation series and the blockbuster white-ball mega event at home.”

Pakistan ODI Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

South Africa ODI Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen

READ: Fakhar Zaman needs to let his bat speak: Shoaib Akhtar

JOHANNESBURG: The third and final T20I match between Pakistan and South Africa, scheduled at the iconic Wanderers Stadium, was abandoned due to persistent rain here on Saturday.

South Africa, who were aiming for a clean sweep, sealed a 2-0 series victory, having thumped Pakistan in the first two games.

Despite the anticipation of a thrilling showdown to cap off the series, the day was marred by a persistent barrage of rain, ranging from light drizzles to heavy downpours, accompanied by sporadic lightning strikes.

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These conditions not only rendered the pitch unplayable but also thwarted any hopes of even a toss being conducted.

As the day progressed, the weather deteriorated further, with darkening skies and relentless rainfall making it increasingly evident that play would not be possible.

It’s worth noting that this was Mohammad Rizwan’s second consecutive T20I series loss, since becoming Pakistan’s white-ball captain. In his first T20I series, Pakistan succumbed to a 3-0 whitewash against Australia in November.

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The two teams will now play a three-match ODI series, starting on December 17 in Paarl. The second and third ODIs will be played in Cape Town and Johannesburg on December 19 and 22 respectively.

Pakistan and South Africa will then engage in a two-match Test series, which will kick off in Centurion on December 26, meanwhile, the second Test will start from January 3 in Cape Town.

READ: PCB reacts to Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim’s retirement

CENTURION: Pakistan opening batter Saim Ayub expressed his thoughts after narrowly missing out on a well-deserved maiden T20I century against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Friday.

Saim played a blistering knock of 98* off 57 balls, peppered with five sixes and 11 fours to set up Pakistan’s total of 206-5 in the second T20I of three-match series against South Africa.

He missed out on his century as he did not get to play any ball in the final over. Irfan Khan (30) got out on the second ball while new batter Abbas Afridi played the remaining four balls, hitting 11 runs with one six and one four.

During the post-match press conference, Saim Ayub was asked about missing out on the chance to get his maiden century in the format.

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However, he shared that he prefers team goals over personal milestones and expressed hope that he will get more such opportunities in the future.

“Opportunities will come; this isn’t the last chance or last day for me to score a hundred. What’s most important is contributing to the team,” Saim stated.

“If the team isn’t winning, then a hundred doesn’t matter. But, if the team wins, even a score of 90 or 80 is enough.”

Saim revealed that the plan was to for for boundaries and get as many runs on the board as possible, which resulted in him not getting strike in the final over.

“At that moment, we were thinking of scoring the maximum number of runs for the team. If a hundred is written in my fate, it will happen eventually,” he added.

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It’s pertinent to mention that South Africa have achieved an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, and the dead rubber third T20I will be played in Johannesburg today.

After wrapping up the T20I series, Pakistan and South Africa will play a three-match ODI series.

The opening ODI will take place on December 17 in Paarl, while the second and third ODIs will be played in Cape Town and Johannesburg on December 19 and 22 respectively.

Pakistan and South Africa will then engage in a two-match Test series, which will kick off in Centurion on December 26, meanwhile, the second Test will start from January 3 in Cape Town.

READ: Babar Azam breaks Chris Gayle’s all-time T20 record

Pakistan batter Babar Azam surpassed West Indies legend Chris Gayle on Friday to become the fastest batter to amass 11,000 runs in T20 cricket.

Babar reached the elusive milestone during the second T20I against South Africa in Centurion, where he played a quick 31-run knock to set up Pakistan’s total of 206-5.

Chris Gayle achieved the feat in 314 innings, however, Babar Azam took only 298 innings to score 11,000 runs in T20 cricket.

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The right-handed maestro is not only the 11th player globally to accomplish this extraordinary feat but also the second from Pakistan after Shoaib Malik.

However, Shoaib and Babar also hold the record for slowest to reach the milestone in terms of strike rate. Shoaib completed his 11,000 runs at a strike rate of 127.47, while Babar’s strike rate was 129.37.

The record for the fastest to 11,000 runs in T20 cricket in terms of strike rate is held by Kieron Pollard, who achieved the feat with a strike rate of a whopping 150.51.

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Moreover, Babar Azam has also surpassed 14000 runs in international cricket, marking himself as just the fifth Pakistani batter to reach this prestigious milestone.

Notably, he stands out as the second-fastest Pakistani to achieve this landmark, trailing only the legendary Mohammad Yousuf.

During his brief 31-run innings, Babar smashed one six, which propelled him to equal Shahid Afridi’s tally of 73 sixes in T20I cricket.

READ: PCB reacts to Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim’s retirement

CENTURION: Saim Ayub’s unbeaten 98 went in vain as Reeza Hendricks smashed a blistering century to steer South Africa to a crushing victory in the second T20I against Pakistan here at SuperSport Park on Friday.

South Africa successfully chased a target of 207 runs, achieving the total with three balls to spare, and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The hosts faced a tumultuous beginning to their innings as Jahandad Khan removed Ryan Rickelton (2) and then Matthew Breetzke (12) within the span of successive overs. This early onslaught left South Africa reeling at a precarious 28-2 after only four overs.

Rassie van der Dussen stepped in and partnered with Reeza Hendricks to orchestrate a remarkable turnaround. The duo formed a formidable alliance, amassing a significant 157-run partnership for the third wicket.

Their marathon stand finally came to an end in the 18th over, when Abbas Afridi managed to dismiss Hendricks. The right-handed opener played an explosive innings that included 117 runs off just 63 balls, peppered with seven boundaries and a staggering 10 sixes.

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Van der Dussen then forged an unbeaten 25-run partnership with captain Heinrich Klaasen (8*), guiding his side to a series-clinching victory. He smashed three fours and five sixes on his way to a 38-ball 66.

On the bowling front for Pakistan, Jahandad Khan shone with two wickets to his name, while Abbas Afridi chipped in with one wicket.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan opted to bat first, however, he fell in the fourth over with only 16 runs on the board.

Saim Ayub was joined by Babar Azam and together they added 87 runs for the second wicket from 45 balls before last match’s hero George Linde struck again.

Babar, who struck three fours and one six on his way to 31, fell prey to Linde.

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Meanwhile, debutant Dayyaan Galiem dismissed Usman Khan (3) and Tayyab Tahir (6) in consecutive overs to leave Pakistan reeling at 122-4.

Irfan Khan (30) then joined Saim and they helped Pakistan recover from the mini-collapse as they smashed 73 runs from 32 balls before the former fell in the final over.

Saim Ayub missed his much-deserved century as new batter Abbas Afridi played the remaining four balls, hitting 11 runs with one six and one four to take Pakistan’s total to 206-5.

The left-handed opening batter remained unbeaten on 98 after conceding 57 balls. His innings featured five sixes and 11 fours.

For South Africa, Galiem and Ottneil Baartman took two wickets each, while Linde bagged one.

READ: Babar Azam close to surpass Shahid Afridi’s record in second South Africa T20I