International cricket returns to Faisalabad with Pakistan-South Africa ODIs / Photo: Aamir QURESHI - AFP
-
Below Deck alumnus João Franco and brother arrested after fatal Turkey fight
-
Ole Miss inquiry expands after video and monkey-noise allegations
-
Thousands of Urban Homes Left Without High-Speed Internet Due to Broadband Blackspots
-
General Hospital actor Randall England dies at 75
-
Bunnie XO artwork taken down from Jelly Roll’s Nashville bar
-
London museum removes Russell Brand hair exhibit after rape conviction
-
Arlington sentinel rebukes Pete Hegseth entourage for laughter near memorial
-
Yella Beezy sentenced to life for arranging rapper Mo3’s murder
-
Kylie Jenner employee describes closet ordeal and pepper-spray incident
-
Authorities to identify Montauk Mary and five other Long Island cold-case victims
-
Davante Adams injury deepens Los Angeles Rams receiver shortage
-
Barbie sequel negotiations stall over reported $25 million pay packages
-
João Franco’s earlier post draws attention after arrest over fatal Turkey brawl
-
Bath & Body Works launches buy-one-get-one-free candle offer
-
Alberta Launches $5M Fund for Women’s Neurology Research to Address Gender Gaps
-
Itlu Arjuna receives U/A certificate ahead of theatrical release
-
Dhananjaya de Silva guides Sri Lanka to 221-4 against Pakistan
-
Niraj Kumar earns Los Angeles Olympic quota with 50m rifle bronze
-
Delhi gold loses Rs 800 while silver falls Rs 5,000
-
India extends micro-credit guarantee plan for five years
-
Madlanga Commission Deadline Extended to 2027 Amid Calls for Structural Justice Reform
-
Pradeep Antony, Smeha Manimegalai portray secret spouses in Mr & Mrs Office
-
Zelenskyy arrives in Dublin for meetings on Ukraine and peace efforts
-
Woman barred from every Greggs outlet after series of offences
-
Jury hears social-media image helped identify teen in Scarlett Faulkner case
-
Ketchup packets link suspect to break-in at Eddie Rocket’s restaurant
-
American Airlines passenger falls ill and vomits on three travellers
-
Spain's General Strike Links Housing Crisis to Lost Purchasing Power
-
Euro-Area Inflation Reaches 4% as Energy Prices Jump
-
China's Factory Inflation Accelerates While Consumer Demand Stays Weak
-
US Adds 165,000 Jobs as Unemployment Falls to 4.1%
-
Bank of England Raises Interest Rate to 4% as Energy Risks Intensify
-
Energy Costs Push OECD Inflation Up to 4.5%
-
OPEC Says Oil Output Is Near Prewar Levels Despite Shipping Disruptions
-
China's Trade Surplus Passes $1 Trillion as Technology Exports Surge
-
China's Singles' Day Exposes Persistent Consumer Caution
-
US Inflation Broadens as Fed Officials Consider Faster Rate Hikes
-
Irish police prepare for further hoax bomb threats after hundreds of schools targeted
-
Korea, Singapore and New Zealand Advance Green Trade Pact Talks
-
RBA Inflation Target Origins: Why Australia Chose a Range Over Zero
-
Ireland and Ukraine consider drone cooperation memorandum after Dublin talks
-
Sister recounts fatal machete attack as Irish murder trial continues
-
Georgia refrigeration company sues EPA after five-year HFC reprieve
-
HoloCoder technology promises brighter smartphone images and 3D depth data
-
EU proposes broad consumer safeguards for apps, subscriptions and ticketing
-
Early Black Friday Walking Pad Deals: Urevo and WalkingPad Discounts
-
Nvidia faces scrutiny over alleged Chinese intelligence link to Jensen Huang
-
Radical Numerics develops offline AI tool to detect engineered pathogens
-
Chennai orders inquiry after dogs die at shelter; two veterinarians face action
International cricket returns to Faisalabad with Pakistan-South Africa ODIs
International cricket is set to return to Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium after 17 years with the three-match one-day international series between Pakistan and South Africa from Tuesday.
The central city in Punjab province last staged an international match in 2008 when Pakistan and Bangladesh played an ODI.
Pakistan endured a six-year exile from international cricket in the aftermath of a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.
The national team were forced to play their international matches on neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates before the deadlock was broken gradually from 2015 onwards.
But Faisalabad was left out as an international venue due to lack of facilities which have gradually improved in the last three years.
Pakistan's newly appointed ODI skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi hailed the decision to host matches in Faisalabad.
"It's a special occasion that Faisalabad is hosting an international match after 17 years," said Shaheen on Monday. "It will be good for the fans of the city."
The ODIs are the tail end of the tour by South Africa who drew a two-match Test series 1-1 and lost 2-1 in the Twenty20 internationals.
Shaheen admitted captaincy was a big responsibility for him.
"It is an honour for me to lead the country," said Shaheen, whose first stint as T20I captain ended after a 4-1 defeat in New Zealand last year.
With Shaheen, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah in the attack and Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan in the squad the home team will be at full strength.
South Africa, however, will be without their injured regular skipper Temba Bavuma and seven key players including pace duo of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen who are rested.
The captaincy is entrusted to newcomer Matthew Breetzke who hit the highest-ever score on ODI debut of 150 which came against New Zealand in Lahore earlier this year.
Despite the under-strength squad, Breetzke put up a brave face.
"We are missing the core group of ODI players that we usually have but in saying this there is an opportunity for the younger guys to step up and take the challenge," said Breetzke.
South Africa's star opener Quinton de Kock will make a comeback to ODI cricket after reversing his 2023 retirement before the tour.
The remaining matches are on Thursday and Saturday, also in Faisalabad.
F.Pedersen--AMWN