Tag: South Africa

Pakistan white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan has explained why explosive opening batter Fakhar Zaman was excluded from the national squad for the tour of South Africa.

The Pakistan men’s selection committee, on 4 December, announced the squads for the upcoming South Africa tour, scheduled from 10 December to 7 January. The tour comprises three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests.

However, Fakhar Zaman was once again ignored after being left out of the central contracts as well as the recent tours of Australia and Zimbabwe.

Mohammad Rizwan, in a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), asserted that there was no ‘personal bias’ whatsoever behind Fakhar’s exclusion from the team.

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“I think the whole of Pakistan knows Fakhar Zaman, and there’s nothing personal about him that makes anyone feel like he’s being treated unfairly,” said Rizwan.

“From the conversations we’ve had among ourselves, everyone is hopeful about him because he is something different for Pakistan – he’s a character and a game-changer.”

The captain of the white-ball team further revealed that Fakhar is currently unwell and experiencing symptoms reminiscent of a viral fever.

Due to his condition, it was deemed best for him to remain in Pakistan. While he is unable to join the team, he will continue to participate in the ongoing Champions T20 Cup under the careful supervision of the medical team.

“I don’t think anyone knows that he is unwell, basically. It is not only a fitness issue, meaning it is not like he failed a fitness test. From what I personally know, he is unwell with something like a viral fever,” he added.

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“Because of this illness, he has been advised to participate in the ongoing T20 tournament in Pakistan. And, God forbid, if anything serious happens, the doctors will look after him properly.”

Rizwan also shared that the management of the PCB, along with the coaching staff and selection committee, has expressed strong support for Fakhar as he focuses on his recovery.

“I’ve had in-depth discussions with the selection committee regarding this situation,” Rizwan stated.

“The coach and PCB management have been informed to take good care of Fakhar during this time. So, there’s nothing personal against him – the whole of Pakistan knows this. Everyone is hopeful that he’ll rejoin the Pakistan team soon.”

It is important to note that Fakhar Zaman last played for Pakistan during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024 in June.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed clears the air on retirement statement

Sri Lanka were whitewashed by South Africa in the two-match Test series, which dented their chances of qualifying for the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

Sri Lanka had arrived in South Africa with an aim to secure a place in the WTC final for the 2023-25 cycle, however, their hopes suffered a massive blow with a crushing defeat in the opening Test in Durban.

While the team displayed a more resilient performance in the second Test in Gqeberha, they ultimately fell short, succumbing to the hosts by a substantial margin of 109 runs.

This victory propelled South Africa to the top of the WTC points table, positioning them as strong contenders for the final.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka remained in fourth place, but their dreams of reaching the final were not entirely dashed. They still had two matches left in the current cycle, with Australia set to visit Sri Lanka for a two-match series next year.

The Sri Lankan cricket team need to achieve a clean sweep victory over Australia to boost their percentage points (PCT) to 53.85.

A victory by just 1-0 would leave Sri Lanka with a PCT of only 48.72, which would not suffice. Additionally, they need to keep an eye on the outcomes of other teams’ matches.

South Africa have two Tests remaining in the current cycle on their home soil against Pakistan. If they draw even one of those matches, they would secure a PCT of 55.56.

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However, if Pakistan manage to stun South Africa with a 2-0 victory, then the latter would finish with a PCT of 52.78.

Sri Lanka’s chances of qualification would increase significantly in case of South Africa’s defeat, regardless of the results from the ongoing series between India and Australia.

For instance, should Australia incur a 2-3 loss, their PCT would dwindle to 50.00, assuming Sri Lanka achieves a 0-2 victory over them. Similarly, if India were to face a similar 2-3 defeat, they would drop to a PCT of 53.51.

However, in the case of Pakistan’s loss against South Africa, the situation becomes more complex.

The only feasible path remaining for Sri Lanka to qualify under those circumstances would require the India-Australia series to conclude in a 1-1 draw. In this scenario, India would finalize their campaign at 53.51, while Australia would settle at a PCT of 50.00.

After going through all the scenarios, it’s clear that Sri Lanka would want Pakistan to achieve a clean sweep over South Africa.

If this happens and Sri Lanka can triumph 2-0 against Australia, their qualification would be nearly assured. Otherwise, Sri Lanka would still need to secure a 2-0 win against Australia while simultaneously hoping for three consecutive draws in the Australia series.

READ: Keshav Maharaj helps South Africa complete Test series sweep over Sri Lanka

GQEBERHA: Keshav Maharaj took five wickets as South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 109 runs to complete the series sweep on the fifth day of the second and final Test at St George’s Park on Monday.

Maharaj picked up 5-76 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 238 in their second innings, losing their remaining five wickets for 33 runs on Monday.

The clean-sweep victory propelled South Africa to the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. They have a good chance to play in the WTC final at Lord’s in June next year, with their two remaining fixtures being at home against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka’s hopes of an upset win were extinguished when overnight batsmen Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis were dismissed inside the first 10 overs of the day.

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De Silva and Mendis, the team’s last recognised batsmen, resumed on 205 for five, still needing 143 runs to win.

Keshav Maharaj made the first breakthrough when Mendis edged a low catch to Aiden Markram at slip. He made 46 in a 97-run sixth-wicket partnership with De Silva.

Kagiso Rabada then had Sri Lankan captain De Silva caught behind for 50, exposing the Sri Lankan tail.

The last three wickets fell quickly with Maharaj claiming two more scalps and Marco Jansen finishing the match with his first ball of the day when Lahiru Kumara was caught off a wild slog.

READ: Tabraiz Shamsi names THIS Pakistani spinner as his inspiration

South Africa left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has recently expressed his profound admiration for the former Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.

Shamsi is currently gearing up for the three-match T20I home series against Pakistan, which is set to kick off in Durban tomorrow.

The 34-year-old spinner, in an interview with a local sports website, opened up about the role of spin bowlers in T20 cricket, which is dominated by explosive power-hitters.

“When T20 cricket began, people thought it would mark the decline of spinners, but the opposite happened,” Shamsi said.

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“Slow bowlers have always been pivotal to their teams’ success. While powerplays and field restrictions can sometimes make it seem like the game favours batters, spinners have the ability to turn matches in their teams’ favour with strategic planning.”

Shamsi was then asked about his inspirations as a spinner, and he was quick to highlight Saeed Ajmal as a pivotal figure in his cricketing journey.

“It’s hard to pick one, but Saeed Ajmal was truly inspirational. I studied his bowling closely. His ability to spin the ball both ways was exceptional, and our styles are quite similar,” he revealed.

It’s worth noting that following the first T20I match in Durban tomorrow, the action will shift to Centurion for the second T20I, which is scheduled for December 13. The series will culminate with the final T20I in Johannesburg on December 14.

Squads of Pakistan and South Africa for T20I series

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

South Africa: Heinrich Klaasen (c), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Simelane, and Rassie van der Dussen.

READ: Pakistan squad carries out training session ahead of first South Africa T20I

DURBAN: The Pakistan squad carried out a training session here on Monday ahead of the series-opener of the three-match T20I series against South Africa, set to commence tomorrow.

Pakistan cricket team is currently on a tour of South Africa, where they will play three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests from 10 December to 7 January.

The Green Shirts immersed themselves in an intensive practice session to prepare for the crucial opening match, scheduled to be played tomorrow.

The players participated in robust batting, bowling, and fielding training sessions to finalize their preparations for the series.

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Following the first T20I match in Durban tomorrow, the action will shift to Centurion for the second T20I, which is scheduled for December 13. The series will culminate with the final T20I in Johannesburg on December 14.

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.

Squads of Pakistan and South Africa for T20I series

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

South Africa: Heinrich Klaasen (c), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke*, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka*, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton*, Tabraiz Shamsi**, Andile Simelane, and Rassie van der Dussen.

READ: PM Shehbaz Sharif lauds PCB chairman’s stance on Champions Trophy

Pakistan top-order batter Ahmed Shehzad has raised questions over the decision to drop off-spinner Sajid Khan from the Test squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa.

The Pakistan men’s selection committee, on 4 December, announced the squads for the upcoming South Africa tour, scheduled from 10 December to 7 January. The tour comprises three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests.

However, Sajid Khan, who took 19 wickets in two Test matches against England, was a notable exclusion alongside pace bowler Shaheen Afridi.

The decision did not sit well with Ahmed Shehzad, who criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for dropping Sajid despite his top-notch performance against England.

“You have dropped Sajid Khan from the South Africa series; are you people blind or out of your minds? Do you think you’re the only one going to play in South Africa, where the entire world doesn’t play? And there, you’re taking just Noman Ali,” Shehzad said in a video on his YouTube channel.

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“You should be thanking Sajid because in the slump Pakistan cricket has been stuck in for the last three and a half years — where it had hit rock bottom and people had started laughing at your cricket—he won matches for you.

“And this is how you’ve rewarded him? Just as he was becoming a superstar, you discarded him like a fly from milk.”

Shehzad also lambasted over the decision to rest Shaheen Afridi from the Test series.

“So, you’ve dropped Shaheen and brought in your own group. What did you achieve by dropping Shaheen? Managing workload, right? You’re just fooling the public in the name of workload management,” he stated.

Pakistan squads for South Africa tour

Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha

ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & 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)

T20Is: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

READ: Pacers keep England on top after Brook’s ton in second New Zealand Test

JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has unveiled a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, scheduled to be played from 10 December.

The three-match T20I series between South Africa and Pakistan will commence on 10 December in Durban. Meanwhile, Centurion and Johannesburg will host the subsequent matches on 13 December and 14 December respectively.

Heinrich Klaasen will take the helm as captain, stepping into the role in place of regular skipper Aiden Markram, who is unavailable for the T20I series.

Notably, the squad will be missing several integral players who have performed consistently across formats. Star cricketers including Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Tristan Stubbs will be rested to prepare for the ODI series against Pakistan.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Anrich Nortje and spinner Tabraiz Shamsi are making a much-awaited comeback to the international scene. This series will be their first outing since the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup held in June.

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Additionally, all-rounder George Linde is back in the fold after an impressive domestic campaign, showcasing his skills and versatility.

“All 15 players are capped, and we’re looking to build on the experience within the group as we continue to grow as a unit,” said South Africa’s white-ball head coach Rob Walter.

“In the absence of Aiden, Heinrich will lead the team. He is a vastly experienced player with a strong understanding and reading of the game. We look forward to utilising him in this role after his previous experiences in 2021.

“We have also given George an opportunity again. He really earned his spot off the back of a strong domestic campaign, and his skills as a spinning all-rounder add important balance to the team.

“We’re pleased to have Anrich and Tabraiz back in the squad. Their wealth of experience and skill significantly bolsters our bowling unit, enhancing both our pace and spin departments, which will be key against a strong Pakistan side.”

South Africa T20I Squad against Pakistan

Heinrich Klaasen (c), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke*, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka*, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton*, Tabraiz Shamsi**, Andile Simelane, and Rassie van der Dussen.

*Matthew Breetzke, Kwena Maphaka, and Ryan Rickelton will join the squad after completing their Test duties against Sri Lanka.

**Tabraiz Shamsi‘s involvement in the ongoing Global Super League (GSL) in Guyana may impact his availability for the first T20I.

READ: Aqib Javed explains Sajid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exclusion from Test squad

Aqib Javed, the interim white-ball head coach of Pakistan and a member of the selection committee, explained the reasons for excluding pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi and off-spinner Sajid Khan from the squad for the Test series against South Africa.

Earlier today, the Pakistan men’s selection committee announced the squads for the upcoming South Africa tour, scheduled from 10 December to 7 January. The tour comprises three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests.

However, Sajid Khan, who took 19 wickets in two Test matches against England, was a notable exclusion alongside Shaheen Afridi.

Aqib Javed, while clarifying the reasons, highlighted the ‘horses for courses policy,’ stating that Sajid has left out because pitches in South Africa are not suitable for spinners.

It’s worth noting that Noman Ali, who took 20 wickets against England, is the sole spinner in the Test squad.

“We have adopted horses for courses policy to ensure all three squads are well-balanced and capable of performing strongly in South Africa,” said Aqib.

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“Leaving out Sajid Khan, despite his stellar performances against England, was an extremely tough and difficult decision.

“However, considering the pace-friendly conditions at Centurion and in Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas instead, who is an outstanding exponent of seam bowling.”

On the other hand, Aqib revealed that Shaheen Afridi has been rested as part of the strategy to keep him fresh and fit for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

“Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exclusion from the Test squad is a strategic decision to ensure he remains physically and mentally fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” he added.

He further shared that opening batter Fakhar Zaman was also not considered for the white-ball series against South Africa as he is yet to achieve full fitness.

“Similarly, Fakhar Zaman was not considered as he is yet to regain form and match fitness.”

Pakistan squads for South Africa tour

Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha

ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & 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)

T20Is: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced the red-ball and white-ball squads for the upcoming tour of South Africa, including veteran pacer Mohammad Abbas, who has been out of the team since 2021.

Pakistan is scheduled to tour South Africa from 10 December to 7 January to play three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests.

Babar Azam has been named in all three squads along with Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha, while Naseem Shah has been selected for the Tests and ODIs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who also missed the last two Tests against England, has been picked for the white-ball matches as part of his workload management so that he is in his best fitness and form for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Mohammad Abbas, who last played in Jamaica in August 2021, has been recalled to the Test squad.

Abbas has taken 90 wickets in 25 Tests for Pakistan. He was recalled on the back of a stellar Quaid-e-Azam Trophy campaign, where he has claimed 31 wickets in five matches.

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Naseem Shah has also been named in the four-man pace attack after missing the last two Tests against England. The 21-year-old, who has played 19 Tests since making his debut in November 2019, has taken four wickets to date for Lahore Whites against Peshawar in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match in Abbottabad.

Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad has also been named in the Test squad for the South Africa tour after claiming 15 wickets for Pakistan Shaheens against Sri Lanka ‘A’ last month. Mir Hamza is the fourth fast bowler in the 15-man Test squad and is presently playing for Peshawar against Lahore Whites in Abbottabad.

However, off-spinner Sajid Khan has missed out on selection despite his 19 wickets against England.

The selectors, after taking into consideration the Centurion and Newlands conditions as well as South Africa as the opposition, have opted for only one specialist spinner in Noman Ali, who took 20 wickets against England and has 67 wickets in 17 Tests.

Also earning the selectors’ nod for the first time in ODIs is Sufyan Muqeem, the left-arm wrist spinner who has taken eight wickets in two T20Is, including five wickets for three runs in the second T20I.

Pakistan T20I squad will depart for South Africa on Friday, 6 December, after Thursday’s third T20I against Zimbabwe, while the ODI and Test players will depart for Johannesburg on 13 December.

Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie will also arrive in Johannesburg on 13 December to supervise the pre-Test series camp.

Pakistan squads for South Africa tour

Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha

ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & 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)

T20Is: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

READ: Shoaib Akhtar reveals what Babar Azam must do to stay in team

CENTURION: England Women recorded a nine-wicket victory against South Africa in the third T20I to complete the series sweep here at SuperSport Park on Saturday.

Heather Knight’s side headed into the match having sealed a series win after taking a 2-0 lead earlier this week.

England Women, while chasing a target of 125, finished the match in a convincing manner with 51 balls to spare.

Opening batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge top-scored with an unbeaten 53 off 31 balls, which featured ten boundaries and one six. Meanwhile, Sophia Dunkley stuck 24* off 17 with four boundaries, including one six.

Opener Maia Bouchier was England’s only dismissal, caught by Nondumiso Shangase for 35 from 21 balls.

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Earlier, England Women won the toss and invited South Africa to bat first, with Lauren Filer drawing first blood with the wicket of Anneke Bosch on the second ball of the match.

Faye Tunnicliffe was dismissed by Lauren Bell in the next over and South Africa soon slipped to 45-5.

But Nadine de Klerk and Nondumiso Shangase hit a combined half-century to help South Africa reach 124 before bundling out.

Charlie Dean took 3-26 and a run out while Bell took two; Filer, Freya Kemp and Sophie Ecclestone contributed with a wicket each.

England and South Africa will now contest a three-match ODI series, starting in Kimberley on Wednesday 4 December.

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