FAISALABAD:
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and elected to bowl first against South Africa in the opening One Day International (ODI) of the three-match series at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, on Friday.
This match holds special significance as international cricket returned to Faisalabad after 17 years, with fans filling the stands to support the home team.
Afridi, leading Pakistan for the first time in ODIs, said the decision to bowl first was based on pitch conditions that are expected to help fast bowlers early in the innings. “The surface looks fresh, and we want to take advantage of the morning conditions,” Afridi said at the toss.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma mentioned that his team was confident despite being asked to bat first and looked forward to setting a challenging total for the hosts.
The Pakistan team features a mix of youth and experience, with Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Imam-ul-Haq anchoring the batting lineup, while Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah support Afridi in the pace attack.
For South Africa, Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram lead the batting unit, with Kagiso Rabada and Tabraiz Shamsi heading their bowling attack.
Cricket fans in Faisalabad witnessed a festive atmosphere, marking the city’s long-awaited return to the international stage. The match is expected to set the tone for an exciting ODI series between two competitive sides.
Playing XIs:
Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Usama Mir, Fakhar Zaman.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj.
