Tag: South Africa

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced details of the national team’s tour to South Africa for three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests in the second half of 2024.

Durban, Centurion, and Johannesburg will host the T20Is from 10-14 December. The ODIs will be played from 17-22 December in Paarl, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, while the two ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 matches will be held at Centurion (26-30 December) and Cape Town (3-7 January).

The side will depart for Durban on 2 December after returning from Australia on 19 November, having featured in a series of three ODIs and three T20Is from 4-18 November.

After completing their African safari on 8 January, the national side will take on New Zealand and South Africa in a three-nation ODI tournament on home turf, which will be followed by the eight-team ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.

Prior to the tours of Australia and South Africa, Pakistan will host Bangladesh and England for two and three Tests, respectively.

This means they will play seven Tests, a minimum of 10 ODIs, and six T20Is in the six-month period from August 2024 to January 2025.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

This will be Pakistan’s seventh Test tour of South Africa since 1994-95. Their two Test wins were in the 1997-98 and 2006-2007 series.

In the Durban Test in 1997-98, Pakistan won by 29 runs at the back of centuries from Azhar Mahmood (132) and Saeed Anwar (118), match figures of nine for 149 by Mushtaq Ahmed and a first innings five-fer by Shoaib Akhtar.

In the 2006-2007 Port Elizabeth Test, Pakistan won by five wickets with Inzamam-ul-Haq being named as Player of the Match for his 92 in the first innings.

In ODIs, Pakistan has won two of the last three series in 2013-2014 and 2020-21, while South Africa triumphed in 2002-2003 (4-1), 2006-2007 (3-1), 2012-2013 (3-2), and 2018-2019 (3-2).

In 12 T20Is to date, Pakistan leads 6-5 in head-to-head encounters, with one match ending in no result.

Tour Schedule

10 Dec – 1st T20I, Durban

13 Dec – 2nd T20I, Centurion

14 Dec – 3rd T20I, Johannesburg

17 Dec – 1st ODI, Paarl

19 Dec – 2nd ODI, Cape Town

22 Dec – 3rd ODI, Johannesburg

26-30 Dec – 1st Test, Centurion

3-7 Jan – 2nd Test, Cape Town

READ: Leverkusen beat Roma to put one foot in Europa League final

Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to run from June 1 to 29 in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA).

Aiden Markram will lead South Africa in the T20 World Cup, which will be his first ICC event as captain after being appointed last year.

Star fast bowler Anrich Nortje returned to the squad and is set to make his international comeback during the tournament after a nine-month hiatus due to an injury.

Meanwhile, uncapped opening batter Ryan Rickelton and seamer Ottniel Baartman have also earned their maiden call-ups on the back of their impressive performance during SA20.

Rickelton ended the tournament as the highest run-scorer with 530 runs at an average of 58.88 and a tremendous strike rate of 173.77.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

On the other hand, Baartman was the second-highest wicket-taker in SA20 with 18 wickets at an average of 11.77.

Wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock also returned to the squad after being left out of the CSA’s central contract recently.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will kick off on June 1 with co-hosts USA taking on neighbouring country Canada.

South Africa will commence their ICC T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Sri Lanka on June 3 in New York.

South Africa squad

Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Tristan Stubbs.

Travelling reserves: Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi.

READ: Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick powers Barcelona to victory over Valencia

Cricket Ireland has announced to play their home series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi later this year in order to overcome their infrastructure constraints.

The decision came in the light of the fact that Ireland do not have a permanent home stadium. They played their first Test at Malahide, near Dublin, in 2018, however, due to the high costs of temporary infrastructure, they played their next six Tests overseas.

South Africa were initially set to to tour Ireland for a series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is in July, however, they will now play two ODIs and three T20Is in Abu Dhabi in September.

“This fixture schedule attempts to strike a balance of competitive, high-quality cricket across multiple formats whilst addressing the challenges we face with respect to our current infrastructure constraints,” Cricket Ireland’s chief executive Warren Deutrom said.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“While we work on longer-term solutions for some of these challenges – most notably continuing to advocate to Government for the proposed permanent stadium – we know we’ll have to explore ways to creatively increase our capacity to host an ever-increasing schedule in the short term.

“Continually reviewing how best to optimise our hosting arrangements for cricket in Ireland and playing a few of our home matches in neutral venues overseas is something we must continue to explore, as we have done with the South Africa series this year.”

Prior to the South Africa series, Ireland are scheduled to host Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in May, followed by a one-off Test match against Zimbabwe in Stormont, Belfast from July 25-29.

READ: Sunil Narine rules out West Indies return for T20 World Cup

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Friday that it will host South Africa and New Zealand for an ODI tri-series ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.

The development came after the newly-appointed PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met the Chairman of Cricket South Africa (CSA), Mr Lawson Naidoo and the Chairman of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Mr Roger Twose on the sidelines of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting in Dubai.

The agenda of the meeting included the ODI Tri-series between Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa, to be held in February 2025 in Pakistan, just before the ICC Champions Trophy.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The Tri-series was finalised and welcomed by the host and both the member boards.

Chairman PCB also extended an invitation to Mr Roger Twose and Mr Lawson Naidoo to visit Pakistan.

Pakistan Cricket Board last hosted a tri-series in October 2004, where Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were the other two teams in the event.

Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi: “The Tri-series between Pakistan, South Africa and New Zealand will be an exciting event and it is after a long time that Pakistan will host such a tournament. I would like to thank the heads of NZC and CSA for agreeing to participate in the Tri-series. The PCB is also looking forward to hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 which will be a great pleasure for Pakistan to host the top eight ODI teams on its soil.”

READ: Quetta Gladiators restrict Islamabad United to 174/9 in PSL 9 Eliminator

PERTH: Australia thumped South Africa by an innings and 284 runs Saturday in the first-ever women’s Test between the two countries, which saw records tumble at Perth’s WACA Ground.

Having beaten Australia for the first time in ODIs and T20s during their tour, South Africa were hoping to go out on a high with a momentous Test win.

But they were rocked by star player Marizanne Kapp being ruled out ill before the match started and Australia emphatically showed who was boss.

“I’m very proud. It’s been an amazing series,” said Australia skipper Alyssa Healy.

“The white ball series was really hard fought at times and we were really tested but the way we continued to bounce back right throughout was really impressive.

“To come here to the WACA and finish like we did really caps off the Aussie summer for us, which is cool.”

It was only South Africa’s second Test match in a decade and captain Laura Wolvaardt admitted it had been a learning experience.

“All credit to Australia, we were pretty much outplayed in all facets of the game,” she said. “But a great experience for us and we enjoyed the opportunity.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“I personally would love to,” she added of wanting to play more red-ball cricket. “It was a huge challenge, but I think the girls really enjoyed themselves out there.”

South Africa were bundled out for just 76 in 31.2 overs on a searing hot opening day after Healy won the toss and sent them into bat — South Africa’s lowest Test score.

Speedster Darcie Brown took 5-21 and allrounder Annabel Sutherland 3-19.

In reply, the hosts racked up a massive 575-9 before declaring with the highest total by a women’s Test side.

The ominous score was spearheaded by an imperious 210 from 22-year-old Sutherland — the fourth biggest women’s score in Test cricket and at 248 balls the fastest double century.

South Africa put up stiffer resistance in their second innings with Delmi Tucker and Chloe Tryon both hitting 64, before the tail folded and they were out for 215 on day three.

Brown took 2-47 to claim seven for the game while player-of-the-match Sutherland picked up another two.

READ: Hasaranga claims Sri Lanka has ‘one of the best bowling’ attacks in world

HAMILTON: New Zealand won a Test series against South Africa for the first time with Kane Williamson hitting an unbeaten century on Friday to steer them to a seven-wicket victory in the second Test.

Williamson’s unbeaten 133 was at the heart of their 269-3 in the fourth innings of a tight Test to complete a 2-0 series win over the understrength tourists.

The Black Caps hadn’t beaten the Proteas in 17 previous Test series dating back to 1931, having lost 13 and drawn four.

The 33-year-old Williamson was methodical throughout a 260-ball stay, putting on an unbroken stand of 152 with Will Young, who scored 60 not out, as New Zealand reached their target of 267 late on day four.

The in-form Williamson scored his seventh century in his last seven Tests, which included twin tons in the 281-run first Test victory at Mount Maunganui.

His 32 centuries have come from 172 innings, surpassing Australia’s Steve Smith (174 innings) as the fastest player in Test history to reach that milestone.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Williamson batted through the day after New Zealand resumed at 40-1, adopting a disciplined approach on a tricky pitch, but was always prepared to punish loose deliveries, scoring 12 fours and two sixes.

New Zealand seamer Will O’Rourke finished with nine wickets on his Test debut to earn the man-of-the-match award with Williamson named player of the series.

New Zealand briefly wobbled when opener Tom Latham was dismissed in the first session for 30 and Rachin Ravindra soon after lunch for 20, but Young dug in to reach his seventh half-century.

The inexperienced Proteas struggled to make an impact aside from Dane Piedt, who finished with 3-93 to give him eight scalps in his first Test in more than four years.

Offspinner Piedt struck early by removing Latham, the opener caught by Zubayr Hamza driving to short cover after adding nine to his overnight score.

Ravindra was undone by a near-identical shot after New Zealand had resumed the second session at 107-2.

South Africa were fielding a side missing the majority of their first-choice players, who skipped the series to instead contest their lucrative domestic Twenty20 league.

READ: Dubai Capitals sink Gulf Giants to join MI Emirates in ILT20 final

South Africa’s David Bedingham scored a maiden century on Thursday to leave New Zealand with the challenging task of scoring 267 to win the second and final Test in Hamilton.

New Zealand, inspired by debut seamer Will O’Rourke’s five-wicket haul, were 40-1 in their second innings at stumps on day three, still 227 short of their target.

Tom Latham was not out on 21 while Devon Conway was trapped leg before wicket by Dane Piedt for 17 in the day’s final over.

The highest successful fourth-innings chase by any team at Seddon Park was 212, achieved by Australia against New Zealand 24 years ago.

Bedingham’s career-high 110 was comfortably the standout knock in South Africa’s second innings of 235, supported by 43 from Keegan Petersen and 34 from captain Neil Brand.

It hands the understrength tourists an opportunity to square the series 1-1 and deny the Black Caps their first-ever series win over the Proteas.

With his team 31 runs ahead in the first innings, Bedingham batted aggressively in difficult batting conditions.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The 29-year-old scored 12 fours and two sixes in a 141-ball stay that backed up his 87 from the first Test in Mount Maunganui, which South Africa lost by 281 runs.

Bedingham and Petersen combined for a crucial fifth-wicket stand of 98 before Petersen’s dismissal sparked a collapse, with the last six wickets falling for 33 runs.

O’Rourke had too much pace and bounce for the tailenders, finishing with 5-34, giving him nine wickets in an eye-catching Test debut from the 22-year-old.

Earlier, he removed Raynard van Tonder for one and then Brand in quick succession to have South Africa in trouble at 39-3.

Glenn Phillips, who claimed two wickets with his part-time off-spin, pulled off three catches in the gully, two of them spectacular.

Phillips’ easiest catch was to remove Bedingham off an O’Rourke delivery that climbed steeply.

Bedingham was able to capitalise on New Zealand’s failure to include a specialist spinner on a pitch that is favouring slow bowlers, scoring freely off Phillips and Rachin Ravindra.

READ: Rohit Sharma to captain India at ICC T20 World Cup 2024

HAMILTON: All-rounders Ruan de Swardt and Shaun von Berg led the South African rearguard on Tuesday as they recovered to 220-6 after New Zealand had dominated the start of the second Test here on Tuesday.

De Swardt had reached his maiden half-century to be 55 not out at stumps on day one, while von Berg was on 34 on his Test debut, with the pair having combined for 70 off 27 overs.

It represented a recovery for South Africa, who won the toss but were 64-3 at lunch and 150-6 early in the final session when key batsman David Bedingham was dismissed in freakish fashion.

After losing the opening Test in Mount Maunganui by 281 runs, an understrength South Africa must win at Seddon Park to avoid becoming the first team from their country to lose a Test series to New Zealand.

De Swardt — one of six Proteas debutants in the first Test — showed the specialist batsman how to preserve his wicket in a gritty 135-ball knock.

He received support from 37-year-old leg-spinner von Berg, finally given an international opportunity after playing 135 first-class matches.

The pair halted a mini-collapse on either side of the tea break inspired by Rachin Ravindra, who took 3-33.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Ravindra, who scored 240 in the first Test, underlined his all-round talent by removing Zubayr Hamza for a painstaking 20 off 99 balls and Keegan Petersen for two.

His left-arm spin then accounted for the unfortunate Bedingham, on 39, whose leg-side flick struck the top of his shoe and flew to close-in fielder Will Young.

South Africa made a dreadful start against New Zealand when makeshift opener Clyde Fortuin was dismissed for the nought first ball in the second over, the wicketkeeper caught brilliantly in the gully by Glenn Phillips off Matt Henry.

Pace bowler Will O’Rourke claimed a scalp on debut when he had captain Neil Brand trapped leg before wicket for 25, while Raynard van Tonder was out for 32 in the over before lunch, caught at gully after failing to get on top of Neil Wagner’s short delivery.

South Africa boosted their spinning stocks, introducing von Berg and recalling off-spinner Dane Piedt for his first Test in four years.

They replaced opener Edward Moore and seamer Duanne Olivier.

For New Zealand, 22-year-old O’Rourke replaced Kyle Jamieson, who had back pain following the first Test.

Veteran seamer Wagner was recalled in place of spinner Mitchell Santner, while Young replaced batsman Daryl Mitchell, who was ruled out with a foot injury.

READ: Six captains unveil HBL PSL 9 Trophy in Lahore

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has blamed the International Cricket Council (ICC) and leading cricket boards for not ‘caring’ about Test cricket after South Africa named their squad for the tour of New Zealand.

Steve Waugh’s criticism came in the wake of South Africa announcing a depleted squad, featuring seven uncapped players for the two-match Test series against New Zealand, commencing from February 4, 2024.

South Africa announced uncapped batter Neil Brand as the captain for the New Zealand tour which will be played at the same time as SA20 league, featuring the frontline Proteas players.

Steve Waugh voiced his concern for the future of Test cricket while putting the blame on ICC and major boards for not taking proactive steps for it.

“Obviously they don’t care, but If the ICC or someone doesn’t step in shortly then Test cricket doesn’t become Test cricket because you’re not testing yourself against the best players,” Waugh said.

“I understand why players don’t come. They’re not getting paid properly. I don’t understand why ICC or the top countries who are making a lot of money don’t just have a regulation set fee for Test matches which is a premium, so people are incentivised to play Test Cricket,” he further added.

Steve Waugh furiously stated that not sending a full-fledged team is disrespectful to Test cricket as well as the opposing team.

“If I was New Zealand I wouldn’t even play the series. I don’t know why they’re even playing. Why would you when it shows a lack of respect for New Zealand cricket?”

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Steve Waugh also expressed concerns that if the same tradition persisted, then Test cricket would not remain as competitive in future as it should be.

“The public are the ones who are going to suffer because it’s not the full side playing, so it’s not Test cricket,” Waugh concluded.

South Africa will play the first Test against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui from February 4 to February 8, while the second Test will be played from February 13 to February 17 in Hamilton.

South Africa squad for New Zealand series

Neil Brand (c), David Bedingham, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin (wk), Zubayr Hamza, Tshepo Moreki, Mihlali Mpongwana, Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Keegan Petersen, Dane Piedt, Raynard van Tonder, Shaun von Berg, Khaya Zondo

READ: David Warner announces retirement from ODI cricket ahead of farewell Test

Former South Africa Test captain Dean Elgar announced on Friday that he will retire from international cricket after the Test series against India, which is scheduled to start next week. 

The 36-year-old, who has hit more than 5,000 Test runs including 13 centuries, will play his last Test at the Newlands ground in Cape Town starting January 3.

“As they say, ‘all good things come to an end’, and the Indian home series will be my last, as I have made the decision to retire from our beautiful game,” Elgar declared.

“The Cape Town Test will be my last. My favourite stadium in the world. A place I scored my first Test run against New Zealand and hopefully my last too.”

Media reports said his decision came after Dean Elgar was told that he was not part of coach Shukri Conrad’s long-term plans.

Elgar made his debut against Australia 12 years ago, failing to score in each innings.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Since then he has become known as a stubborn batter, his 5,146 runs making him South Africa’s eighth-highest run-scorer.

He scored his career-best score of 199 against Bangladesh in 2017.

Dean Elgar was the captain of South Africa from May 2021 until January this year, leading South Africa to third place in last year’s World Test Championship with a notable 2-1 home series win over India.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Pholetsi Moseki said Elgar has “represented his country with honour”.

“His grittiness and determination are two qualities that really stood out; and these are attributes that all South Africans can relate to.”

Director of cricket Enoch Nkwe added that in the current age of power-hitting, “he is a real old-school cricketer that can dig in, absorb and fight. I have no doubt the game will dearly miss him.

“He has always given everything for his country and never showed any fear, no matter the opposition.”

READ: ‘Electra Stumps’ introduced in Men’s BBL for the first time