FAISALABAD: It has been 17 years since international cricket was played in Faisalabad and today, Pakistan and South Africa will take each other on the first One Day International (ODI) at Iqbal Stadium.
The game is a landmark event for the city that last saw a face-off of the international teams in 2008 when Pakistan met Bangladesh. Cricket’s return in Faisalabad has been a great pleasure to the local fans and the officials of the area.
Pakistan’s captain will be none other than Shaheen Shah Afridi. Afridi stated that leading the team was a great honor for him and that he could not stop Babar Azam more strongly to get his good form again if Pakistan were to continue their winning streak.
Preparations were tough for both sides as they had very intensive training sessions. In addition, there was a beautiful trophy unveiling event held to mark the start of the series.
The cricket lovers are looking forward to this game which is a big deal not only in terms of sport but also as a sign of the return of the international cricketing spirit to Faisalabad after a long break.
Pakistan seals T20 series with a thrilling 4-wicket win over South Africa
Pakistan clinched the T20 series by winning two games out of three following a nail-biting 4-wicket triumph over South Africa in the last T20 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Saturday.
Babar Azam was the man of the match by any measure as he made 68 runs off 47 balls, and he was the very essence of the chase captaincy with total control and confidence. Salam Ali Agha was the perfect partner with 33 runs where as Sahi bzada Farhan made 19 runs. The middle order of Mohammad Nawaz and Saime Ayub were both dismissed for zero, and Hassan Nawaz made 5 runs.
While Corbin Bosch and Liza Dolimz were the two great South African bowlers, each with a couple wickets, the pair could do little to stop Pakistan going after their target gradually.
ALSO READ: Tickets for Pakistan vs Sri Lanka ODI Series go on sale today
At the beginning of the game, South Africa took the 20 overs to set a target score of 139 for 9 wickets. Reza Hendricks was the main man for the Proteas with 34 runs and after him Corbin Bosch (30), Donovan Ferreira (29), and David Brevis (21) also chipped in contributions.
On the other side, Pakistan’s bowling team performed at their best. Shaheen Shah Afridi was the main person behind the attack line and took three wickets. Usman Tariq and Faheem Ashraf, who both took two wickets each, were also very effective in the additional part of the top-order South Africa’s dismissal, thereby the total was limited.
Pakistan had already demonstrated their superiority by winning the second game of the series effortlessly with a 9-wicket victory against South Africa. South Africa managed to score only 110 runs in 19.2 overs while Pakistan chased down the target of 111 runs in 13.1 overs with one wicket down.
