Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi is on the verge of breaking Wasim Akram's record for the most wickets by a Pakistani bowler against South Africa in international cricket. As the first ODI of the three-match series begins today, Afridi needs just four more wickets to surpass Akram's 48 wickets in 31 innings. This could be a significant milestone for Afridi, who has been in impressive form in ODIs and will play a crucial role in Pakistan's attempt to recover from their T20I series loss to South Africa.
Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie discusses his role as Pakistan's red-ball coach and the lack of communication he had with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during his tenure. After leading the team to a successful Test series against England in October, Gillespie resigned last week, with Aqib Javed named as the interim Test coach and also handling white-ball duties following the exit of Gary Kirsten. Gillespie cites the reduction of his role and not having a say in the selection committee as key factors in his decision to step down.
The South Africa National Cricket Team and Pakistan National Cricket Team face off in the first ODI match of the series, with South Africa winning the toss and choosing to bat first. With the Champions Trophy on the horizon, both teams will be using this series as a chance to test their combinations. South Africa will have to navigate their way through a tough match with many of their key bowlers out due to injuries, while Pakistan looks to bounce back from a crushing defeat in the T20I series.
In a highly anticipated cricket match, India takes a dominating win against rival Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. After winning the toss, India chooses to field and successfully restricts Pakistan's batting, setting the stage for an exciting chase. With notable performances from their top-order batsmen, India secures a comprehensive victory in just 13 overs.
After months of deteriorating relationship with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Jason Gillespie has officially stepped down as the head coach of the test side. The decision comes just two weeks before the highly anticipated test series against South Africa. Aaqib Javed, currently the interim coach of Pakistan's white-ball teams, will serve as the interim test coach for the series. Gillespie's resignation was a result of multiple factors, including being excluded from key decisions and the PCB's preference for Pakistan-based coaches.
In a surprising move, Jason Gillespie has resigned from his role as the coach of Pakistan's Test team, with Aaqib Javed set to replace him for the upcoming two-match series against South Africa. Gillespie's contract was set to expire in 2026 but he decided to step down after the PCB didn't review the contract of another coach brought in on his recommendation. This news comes after the recent resignation of Gary Kirsten, who had joined as the white ball coach along with Gillespie.
Pakistan's hopes of victory in the first T20I against South Africa were dashed despite a steady innings by their captain, Mohammad Rizwan. Rizwan's cautious approach saw him score a 62-ball 74 runs but unfortunately it was too little too late as Pakistan fell short of their target of 184 by 11 runs. This was Rizwan's third-lowest strike rate in an innings where he scored over 50 runs, showcasing his slow yet steady play. However, it was not enough to secure Pakistan a win against South Africa.
The ICC has found a solution for the conflict between India and Pakistan in terms of hosting cricket matches. The Pakistan Cricket Board has ultimately agreed to play their games at a neutral venue in exchange for a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy in 2025 and the T20 World Cup in India in 2026. It has been reported that ICC Chairman Jay Shah will hold a virtual meeting with PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday to finalize the details of this agreement.
The Pakistan national cricket team, led by captain Mohammad Rizwan, is all set for a three-match T20I series against South Africa. The first match will be played at Kingsmead, Durban, with start time of 09:30 PM IST. Despite a recent loss to Zimbabwe, Pakistan aims to bounce back and secure a 1-0 lead in the series. On the other hand, South Africa will be led by Heinrich Klaasen and boasts a strong squad including players like David Miller and Anrich Nortje. Fans can catch all the action live on Sports 18 channels or through the Jio Cinema app.
The second T20I between South Africa and Pakistan will take place at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday. Both teams will be looking to improve on their previous performances, with the home side focusing on better batting in the powerplay and the visitors aiming for more solid partnerships. The all-rounder George Linde will be a key player for South Africa, while Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam will lead the charge for Pakistan. With an exciting match expected, cricket fans won't want to miss this clash between two formidable teams.