FAISALABAD: Pakistan overcame a late South African fightback to win the first one-day international by two wickets in a tense last-over finish in Faisalabad on Tuesday. The home team were cruising towards victory at 241-4, chasing a 264-run target, until South Africa grabbed four wickets for just 22 runs to set up a tense finish at Iqbal Stadium. Pakistan entered the last over needing four runs with three wickets standing, but lost Mohammad Nawaz off the third ball with the scores tied. Tail-ender Naseem Shah took a sharp single off the next ball to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final two matches on Thursday and Saturday, also in Faisalabad, which was hosting its first international cricket in 17 years. &quot;That always happens in cricket, but we&#39;ll try to make it not happen again,&quot; said Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi. &quot;It was a special occasion of cricket returning to Faisalabad, so we are happy that we won.&quot; Pakistan had bowled out South Africa for 263 in 49.1 overs despite half-centuries from openers Quinton de Kock and teenager Lhuan-dre Pretorius. &quot;I think we were 20-30 runs short,&quot; said Matthew Breetzke, who was leading the team for the first time. &quot;We lost wickets in clusters, but still there are a lot of positives.&quot; Opener Fakhar Zaman, who scored 45 with two sixes and four boundaries, and Saim Ayub, whose 39 included four fours and a six, gave Pakistan a solid start of 87. A packed 16,000 crowd welcomed the return of international cricket to the Iqbal Stadium, but were left disappointed when their favourite Babar Azam then fell for just seven. Salman Agha hit a 71-ball 62 and added 91 for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Rizwan, sacked as ODI skipper and replaced by Shaheen Shah Afridi last month, who scored 74-ball 55. Rizwan&#39;s fall in the 39th over raised South Africa&#39;s hopes. Before the match, South Africa&#39;s aggressive batter Dewald Brevis was ruled out of the series with a shoulder injury, further depleting the side already missing key players who are either injured or being rested. De Kock capped his return to ODIs after a two-year gap with a knock of 63, and 19-year-old Pretorius scored 57 from 60 balls on his ODI debut in an opening stand of 98 after the tourists were sent in to bat. Pakistan slowed South Africa as spinner Ayub, who finished with 2-39, dismissed Pretorius and Tony de Zorzi for 18. Pace bowler Shah, who took 3-40, further jolted the visitors with the wickets of De Kock and George Linde. Breetzke revived the innings with 42 off 54 balls before he holed out to long-off as spinner Abrar Ahmed collected 3-53. South Africa lost their last six wickets for 61 runs, giving Pakistan the chance to go one up.

Cricket

De Kock capped his return to ODIs after a two-year gap with a knock of 63 and debutant Pretorius scored 57 as Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium staged its first international match in 17 years.

Pakistan edge South Africa in tense ODI finish in Faisalabad

LAHORE: Pace bowlers Faheem Ashraf and Salman Mirza registered their best international T20 figures to guide Pakistan to a nine-wicket win over South Africa in Lahore on Friday. Ashraf grabbed 4-23 and Mirza snared 3-14 to dismiss South Africa for just 110 before opener Saim Ayub struck an unbeaten 71, helping Pakistan easily knock off the runs. The win levelled the series at 1-1 after South Africa won the first match in Rawalpindi by 55 runs on Tuesday. The third and final match is in Lahore on Saturday. Ayub&rsquo;s 38-ball burst featured six fours and five sixes, the last coming off Donovan Ferreira to seal the victory, with Babar Azam also not out on 11. Pakistan raced to 54 in the seventh over with Sahibzada Farhan smashing three sixes as he made 28 before he was trapped leg-before by Corbin Bosch. Azam became the highest run-scorer in T20 internationals, surpassing India batsman Rohit Sharma&rsquo;s total of 4,231 in 159 games. Azam now has 4,234 in 130 matches. Pakistan captain Salman Agha hopes his team can replicate their display in the series decider. &ldquo;I am happy with this win,&rdquo; said Agha. &ldquo;They outplayed us in the last game but today we bowled well up front and now I hope this good work continues in the next match.&rdquo; South African skipper Ferreira admitted the batting let his team down. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t give our bowlers enough to defend,&rdquo; said Ferreira. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have much time to reflect on this so we need to put this behind and come strong tomorrow.&rdquo; South Africa, sent in to bat, were jolted two balls into their innings when Mirza bowled Reeza Hendricks for nought. Naseem Shah had Quinton de Kock caught for seven before Mirza dismissed Tony de Zorzi (seven) and Matthew Breetzke (five) in successive overs. From 23-4, Dewald Brevis and Ferreira added the highest stand of the innings of 26 before Ashraf stopped any revival with a haul of four wickets. Brevis hit three sixes in his 16-ball 25 &mdash; South Africa&rsquo;s top score &mdash; as Ferreira added 15. Ashraf&rsquo;s previous best of 4-27 was against Afghanistan in Sharjah last month while Mirza&rsquo;s best of 3-20 came against Bangladesh in Dhaka earlier this year.

Pakistan leveled the series 1-1 after Faheem Ashraf’s 4-23, Salman Mirza’s 3-14, and Saim Ayub’s unbeaten 71 led a nine-wicket win over South Africa in Lahore.

Ashraf and Mirza skittle South Africa as Pakistan win second T20

RAWALPINDI: The No. 11 batter Kagiso Rabada and Senuran Muthusamy hit career-best half-centuries as South Africa scripted one of its most memorable comebacks to dominate Pakistan on Day 3 of the second and final test.&nbsp;South Africa was all out Wednesday for 404 in its first innings &mdash; having resumed on 185-4 and being reduced to 235-8 and 306-9 &mdash; to take a 71-run lead. Pakistan&#39;s left-arm spinner Asif Afridi claimed six wickets and became the oldest bowler in test cricket to grab a five-wicket haul in his debut test at the age of 38.&nbsp;Pakistan collapsed to 94-4 in its second innings at stumps. Off-spinner Simon Harmer took 3-26 and Rabada had Abdullah Shafique caught in the slips cordon in his incisive opening spell with the new ball.&nbsp;Babar Azam, who hasn&rsquo;t scored an international century in more than two years, is 49 not out and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan undefeated on 16 as the pair led Pakistan&#39;s resistance.&nbsp;South Africa earlier fought back in a match where Pakistan had won the important toss on a spinning wicket.&nbsp;Afridi (6-79) had put Pakistan in sight of a meaningful first-innings lead before the home team ran into Muthusamy and Rabada&rsquo;s electrifying 98-run last wicket stand.&nbsp;Muthusamy made an unbeaten 89 off 155 balls and Rabada smashed four sixes and four boundaries in his belligerent 71 off 61 as the Proteas bid to level the two-match series.&nbsp;Afridi&rsquo;s five-wicket haul saw World Test Championship winner South Africa slipping to 221-7 in 80 overs before Pakistan&rsquo;s ploy to finish off the innings with the second new ball misfired badly.&nbsp;Muthusamy cut Pakistan&#39;s lead to 27 when he shared a 71-run ninth-wicket stand with Keshav Maharaj, who gave at least three chances and went on to score 30. Rabada blunted the pace of Shaheen Shah Afridi and the spinners with his first test 50.&nbsp;It was only the second time in test matches that both the ninth and 10th wickets shared partnerships of 50-plus in a test innings.&nbsp;South Africa went to lunch 48 runs behind with two wickets in hand, but Muthusamy swept and reverse swept against the spinners with ease and Rabada didn&rsquo;t spare the bowlers before he holed out to long-on at the stroke of tea that ended a superb counterattack from South Africa.&nbsp;Record haulAfridi became only the sixth Pakistani spinner after Mohammad Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Bilal Asif, Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmed to grab a five-wicket haul in a debut test after South Africa resumed on 185-4.&nbsp;In doing so, he beat the test record set by England legspinner Charles Marriott, who returned 5-37 on debut against West Indies in 1933 at the age of 37.&nbsp;Afridi&rsquo;s sliders baffled the South Africa batters as he struck on the fourth ball of the day, finding the outside edge of Kyle Verreynne&rsquo;s (10) bat.&nbsp;Tristan Stubbs (76) added eight to his overnight 68 before he was undone by another straight delivery as he tried to flick the left-arm spinner off the back foot and was out leg before wicket.&nbsp;Afridi then celebrated his memorable five-wicket haul when Harmer (2) went for a sweep but was struck on the back leg directly in front of the stumps.&nbsp;Pakistan took the second new ball and Noman Ali finally got his first wicket when he had Marco Jansen lbw.&nbsp;Pakistan leads the two-match series after a win in Lahore last week.

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, left, plays a shot as Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan watches during the third day of the second test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, October 22, 2025. (AP)

Pakistan collapsed to 94-4 in its second innings at stumps. Off-spinner Simon Harmer took 3-26 and Rabada had Abdullah Shafique caught in the slips cordon in his incisive opening spell with the new ball.

Rabada hits first test 50 to lead South Africa's comeback vs Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan could include a third spinner against South Africa as the hosts try to sweep the series 2-0 in the second Test in Rawalpindi, head coach Azhar Mahmood said Sunday. Pakistan beat World Test champions South Africa by 93 runs inside four days last week with spinners taking 34 of the 40 wickets on a turning Gaddafi Stadium pitch. Mahmood said either leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed or uncapped 38-year-old left-armer Asif Afridi could be called up for the second and final Test beginning on Monday on a dry Rawalpindi pitch. Left-armer Noman Ali took 10 wickets in the first Test while his spin partner Sajid Khan finished with six. With the pitch in Rawalpindi likely to turn more as the match goes on, Mahmood stressed that first innings runs will be crucial, whether batting first or second. &quot;The pitch looks dry ... so you need to score big and not depend on the toss for a favourable result,&quot; said Mahmood. South Africa will be bolstered by the return of experienced left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who missed the first Test with a groin strain. &quot;Keshav is fit and obviously it is great to have him back,&quot; said South Africa stand-in captain Aiden Markram. &quot;He brings in great experience and a really good skill set.&quot; Maharaj is likely to partner Senuran Muthusamy, who excelled with 11 wickets in the first Test. &quot;It is really important for us to try to level the series,&quot; said Markram, who is captain because Temba Bavuma is injured. &quot;We are expecting more spin in this Test but it is an opportunity for us.&quot; Tony de Zorzi made a century in the first Test and Markram said the South Africans had &quot;tapped into him&quot; to understand &quot;what worked against the Pakistan spinners.&quot; &quot;It is good to have someone with that confidence,&quot; he added.

Pakistan's team players attend a practice session on the eve of their second Test cricket match against South Africa, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on October 19, 2025. (AFP)

Either leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed or uncapped 38-year-old left-armer Asif Afridi could be called up for the second and final Test beginning on Monday.

Pakistan mull third spinner as they look for South Africa sweep

Syed Ahmed Raza

ISLAMABAD: At an age when most cricketers start contemplating retirement, Pakistan&rsquo;s Noman Ali continues to redefine persistence and performance. Affectionately known as &lsquo;Chachu&rsquo; in the dressing room, Noman has quietly evolved into Pakistan&rsquo;s most dependable force in Test cricket. His relentless accuracy, unwavering fitness, and mastery of spin have not only earned him admiration but also reshaped Pakistan&rsquo;s Test fortunes in recent years. Yet, it remains baffling that a player with such influence still languishes in Category C of the Pakistan Cricket Board&rsquo;s central contracts. Why is Pakistan&rsquo;s most consistent match-winner not valued accordingly? Let&rsquo;s dig in.&nbsp;Breaking records, defying ageIn Pakistan&rsquo;s historic 93-run victory over defending World Test Champions South Africa in Lahore this week, Noman once again rose to the occasion. His 10-wicket haul (10/191) was his third in just 20 Tests, an extraordinary feat achieved by only 11 other players in cricket history within a few matches.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1978352490656526759&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F1422%2F&sessionId=d92f6f8f14ec3f8a18ae56bfb1be02fbb9a7f668&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-twitter-extracted-i1760601469914208806="true">Noman Ali grabs his career&#39;s 3rd 1️⃣0️⃣-wicket haul vs South Africa in the first Test at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvSA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvSA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreenPeYaqeen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreenPeYaqeen</a> <a href="https://t.co/aNS5J4Lq9m">pic.twitter.com/aNS5J4Lq9m</a>&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1978352490656526759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote></div>He now joins an elite club alongside Fazal Mahmood, Sydney Barnes, and Australia&rsquo;s C.V. Grimmett &mdash; bowlers who defined their eras. Even legends like Muttiah Muralidaran, Shane Warne, and Ravichandran Ashwin didn&rsquo;t reach this milestone so early in their careers. Noman&rsquo;s match-turning spells against England, West Indies, and now South Africa highlight his reliability. Eleven and nine wickets against England, six and ten versus West Indies, and another ten against South Africa, these numbers speak of a spinner at the peak of his craft.&nbsp;Dominance backed by numbersSince making a late Test debut in 2021 at 35, Noman has become Pakistan&rsquo;s most trusted match-winner in the longer format, a bowler capable of altering the course of a game on his own. Over 20 Tests, he has taken 93 wickets at an impressive average of 24.15, including nine five-fors and three ten-wicket match hauls. No Pakistani bowler has claimed more wickets during this period. He leads the pack ahead of Shaheen Shah Afridi (81), Sajid Khan (64), Hasan Ali (49), and Abrar Ahmed (46). In the past year alone, Noman&rsquo;s form has been sensational, 52 wickets at a remarkable average of 15.21 since July 2023, the best by any bowler in the world over that span.&nbsp;A tireless workhorseBeyond the stats, it&rsquo;s Noman&rsquo;s work ethic that truly defines him. In the recent Lahore Test, Pakistan bowled 144.5 overs, and Noman shouldered 63 of them, a testament to his stamina and commitment. His ability to maintain accuracy, extract turn, and sustain pressure makes him indispensable in the red-ball format. At 39, his endurance and discipline remain unmatched, setting a benchmark for the next generation of Pakistani spinners.&nbsp;Recognition overdueDespite his remarkable consistency, it&rsquo;s disappointing that Noman remains in Category C of the PCB&rsquo;s central contracts, a slot that hardly does justice to his impact. For a player who has carried Pakistan&rsquo;s spin attack for nearly four years, higher recognition is long overdue.&nbsp;A case for T20 inclusionWith the T20 World Cup 2026 set to be played in spin-friendly conditions across India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan&rsquo;s lack of experienced spinners could once again be exposed. Given Noman&rsquo;s control, temperament, and ability to deceive with flight and drift, he could be a surprise yet valuable addition to Pakistan&rsquo;s T20 setup. In a format dominated by mystery and wrist-spinners, his classical left-arm orthodox style could bring control and stability, especially on turning tracks.&nbsp;An underrated legend in the makingFrom being a late bloomer to becoming Pakistan&rsquo;s most consistent Test bowler, Noman Ali&rsquo;s journey embodies resilience, patience, and quiet excellence. He may not command the spotlight like Shaheen or Naseem, but his numbers tell a story of dominance and reliability few can match. At 39, Noman continues to prove that age is just a number, not a limitation, in the story of a spinner who refuses to stop rewriting Pakistan&rsquo;s Test history.

At 39, Noman Ali defies age and odds to become Pakistan’s most reliable Test match-winner yet remains undervalued.

Noman Ali: Pakistan’s unsung hero rewriting Test cricket history

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan clinched a commanding 93-run victory over defending champions South Africa in the opening Test, with Noman Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi starring in a dominant bowling performance in Lahore&#39;s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. Chasing a target of 277, South Africa were bowled out for just 183 in their second innings, as Pakistan&#39;s spinners and pace attack combined effectively to dismantle the visitors. Noman Ali claimed 4 for 79, while Shaheen Shah Afridi returned equally impressive figures of 4 for 33. South Africa&rsquo;s collapseSouth Africa began Day 4 at 51 for 2, needing a further 226 runs to win with eight wickets in hand. With Pakistan already in control, the hosts wasted no time tightening their grip on the match. Shaheen Shah Afridi set the tone early by removing first-innings centurion Tony de Zorzi for 16. Noman Ali then took charge, claiming two quick wickets. Tristan Stubbs (2) fell attempting a reckless reverse sweep, while Dewald Brevis, who had looked dangerous with a counterattacking 54 off 54 balls, was outsmarted by Noman&rsquo;s clever use of flight and turn. Brevis&#39;s aggressive half-century offered South Africa a brief glimmer of hope, but once he departed, the visitors&#39; resistance began to unravel.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1978352861491707932&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=1c4509d698960f2dc0520e0d0c8cd2a568cbcaa2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 626px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1978352861491707932"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Ryan Rickelton tried to anchor the innings with a patient 45 off 145 balls, but lacked support at the other end. His dismissal &mdash; caught by Agha Salman off Sajid Khan &mdash; ended South Africa&#39;s last meaningful partnership. From there, the collapse was swift. Shaheen Afridi returned to rip through the lower order, removing Subrayen and Rabada in successive overs and wrapping up the innings in 60.5 overs. South Africa were all out for 183, handing Pakistan a well-deserved 93-run victory.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1978382450192503246&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=1c4509d698960f2dc0520e0d0c8cd2a568cbcaa2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 602px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1978382450192503246"></iframe></div></div> First innings recapEarlier, Pakistan posted 378 in their first innings after opting to bat first. In reply, South Africa were dismissed for 269, handing the hosts a 109-run lead. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali was the standout performer, claiming 6 for 112 &mdash; his ninth five-wicket haul in Test cricket. He bowled a marathon 35 overs, applying relentless pressure on the South African batters. Spinner Sajid Khan supported well with figures of 3 for 98 from 33 overs, including the final wicket of Kagiso Rabada, bowled for a duck. South Africa&rsquo;s main resistance came from Tony de Zorzi, who resumed on 81 and reached his second Test century with six and two singles off Noman. His resilient innings of 104 off 208 minutes featured 10 fours and two sixes before he holed out to long-on. Match summaryPakistan 1st Innings: 328South Africa 1st Innings: 275Pakistan 2nd Innings: 223South Africa 2nd Innings (Target: 277): 183 all out (60.5 overs)

Both bowlers take four wickets to bowl South Africa out for 183. Pakistan take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.

Noman, Shaheen shine as Pakistan win first Test by 93 runs

ISLAMABAD: Left-arm spinner Noman Ali grabbed six wickets to put Pakistan firmly in command at lunch on day three of the first Test against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Tuesday.&nbsp;South Africa were bowled out for 269 in reply to Pakistan&rsquo;s 378, giving the hosts a 109-run first-innings lead before going into the break at 36-2 in their second innings, extending the overall advantage to 145 runs. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1977999388401418377&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=f37eec23129ad603d10d8fd9bfb8b78d091d5c7a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1019px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Noman finished with impressive figures of 6-112, claiming his ninth five-wicket haul in Test cricket. He wrapped up the South African innings early in the morning session, dismissing Tony de Zorzi for 104 after the opener completed a fighting second Test hundred.&nbsp;De Zorzi&rsquo;s 208-minute stay included 10 fours and two sixes before he holed out to Shaheen Shah Afridi at long-on. Off-spinner Sajid Khan provided strong support, taking 3-98, including the wickets of Senuran Muthusamy and Kagiso Rabada.&nbsp;In Pakistan&rsquo;s second innings, openers Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood fell cheaply &mdash; Imam stumped off Simon Harmer for 7 and Masood bowled by an arm ball for 9 &mdash; before Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam steadied the innings.&nbsp;At lunch, Pakistan led by 145 runs with eight wickets in hand, as batting continues to look difficult on a turning Lahore surface.

South Africa bowled out for 269 in reply to Pakistan’s 378, giving the hosts a 109-run first-innings lead before going into the break at 36-2 in their second innings.

Pak-SA Test match: Noman’s six-for gives Pakistan control at lunch on Day 3

ISLAMABAD: &nbsp;Left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy produced a superb spell, taking six wickets to help South Africa dismiss Pakistan for 378 on the second morning of the first Test on Sunday.&nbsp;By lunch on Day 2, South Africa reached 10 without loss in their first innings, with openers Ryan Rickelton (4*) and Aiden Markram (5*) surviving a tricky phase before the break.<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1977637922347335737&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=cd53a0764c561af21cbde874b8bb5292f5ba9e36&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VGOTEL Mobile Presents Bank Alfalah Pakistan vs South Africa Test Series 2025 🏏 1st Test Lunch (day 2) at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore 🏟️ South Africa 10-0 in 4 overs Pakistan 378 all out in 110.4 overs.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvSA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#PAKvSA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreenPeYaqeen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#GreenPeYaqeen</a> <a href="https://t.co/rb9izwPamU" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">pic.twitter.com/rb9izwPamU</a>&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1977637922347335737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote>Resuming on 314-5, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha extended Pakistan&rsquo;s total to 362 with a composed partnership before Muthusamy broke through. Rizwan, who had looked solid, edged one outside off-stump to the left-arm spinner, triggering a collapse. The remaining four wickets fell for just 16 runs as Muthusamy ripped through the lower order. His figures of 6-82 were a career-best, while off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen chipped in with two wickets, and Simon Harmer and Kagiso Rabada took one apiece.&nbsp;For Pakistan, Imam-ul-Haq (93), Agha Salman (93), Shan Masood (76), and Mohammad Rizwan (75) were the major contributors, building a strong foundation after early trouble. However, a late collapse saw Pakistan lose their last five wickets for just 16 runs.&nbsp;With some turn already visible, the spinners are expected to play a key role as the match progresses. South Africa&rsquo;s immediate goal will be to lay a solid foundation in response to Pakistan&rsquo;s total when play resumes after lunch.

South Africa are 10-0 at the lunch on Day 2.

Muthusamy takes six, as South Africa fold Pakistan for 378

ISLAMABAD: South Africa went into the tea break on a high after left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy struck twice in two balls to jolt Pakistan, who had looked comfortably placed for most of the session.&nbsp;At the break, Pakistan were 199 for 4 in 57 overs, with Babar Azam unbeaten on 23 and the hosts hoping to rebuild after losing momentum late in the second session.&nbsp;After the early dismissal of Abdullah Shafique for 2, Imam-ul-Haq (93) and captain Shan Masood (76) steadied the innings with a solid 161-run stand on a slow, batter-friendly Gaddafi Stadium pitch offering little to the bowlers.&nbsp;However, just as Imam seemed set for a century, Muthusamy turned the tide &mdash; first removing Imam, caught smartly by Tony de Zorzi at short leg, and then dismissing Saud Shakeel for a first-ball duck, caught and bowled off a leading edge.&nbsp;Earlier, Shan Masood had fallen to Prenelan Subrayen, trapped lbw for 76 after a patient 147-ball knock featuring nine fours and a six.&nbsp;At tea, Pakistan trail off a promising start but still have plenty of batting to come, with Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha next in line. The match is being played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.&nbsp; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1977312485939282419&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cd60c0e5d56fd8d053bf0badaf00adc653b12aae&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 827px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Summary:Pakistan 1st Innings: 199/4 in 57 overs (Imam 93, Shan 76, Babar 23*; Muthusamy 2-36, Subrayen 1-52, Rabada 1-25)

Pakistan are 199-4 at tea. Imam-ul-Haq falls for 93.

South Africa fight back as Pakistan lose two in two before tea

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will begin its 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) journey on Sunday when they take on defending champions South Africa in the first of two Test matches at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. This will also be the first occasion since the inception of the ICC World Test Championship in 2019 that Pakistan will be playing their opening series of a WTC cycle at home. In the 2019-21 WTC, they began the cycle with a tour to Australia, while in 2021-23, with a championship tour of the West Indies. In the previous 2023-25 cycle, Pakistan started their campaign with a tour of Sri Lanka. Golden opportunityIn earlier WTC cycles, Pakistan finished fifth, seventh, and ninth, failing to win more than five matches in a single campaign. The team never came close to qualifying for the final. However, the upcoming cycle offers a favorable mix of opponents and venues, presenting a realistic chance for Pakistan to turn the tide.&nbsp;One of Pakistan&rsquo;s biggest advantages is the fixture list. Under the WTC format, each team plays six series, three at home and three away, while missing two opponents. For Pakistan, those two are India and Australia, two of the strongest sides in WTC history.&nbsp;Australia, the 2023 champions and 2025 runners-up, hold the best win/loss ratio at 2.750, followed by India at 1.631. Avoiding both significantly boosts Pakistan&rsquo;s chances of staying competitive on the points table.&nbsp;Home advantageAt home, Pakistan will host South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand &mdash; six Tests in total. The series against South Africa marks a tough opening challenge, but also a golden opportunity to build early momentum. Pakistan&rsquo;s record against both South Africa and New Zealand is stronger on home soil, and victories here could set the tone for the entire cycle.&nbsp;Away fixturesTheir away fixtures, against England, Bangladesh, and West Indies, pose varying levels of difficulty.&nbsp;The three-Test series in England is expected to be the toughest, but Pakistan have historically performed well there, with five Test wins since 2010, their best record among SENA countries.&nbsp;Bangladesh remains a favorable venue, with Pakistan having won eight of the nine Tests, while the West Indies could offer a balanced contest.&nbsp;Masood for maximizing home advantagePakistan captain Shan Masood, speaking to the PCB Digital, ahead of the South Africa series, emphasized a strong start to the new WTC cycle.&nbsp;&ldquo;The main goal is always to win the championship, but for us, it&rsquo;s about starting well &mdash; and facing the defending champions at home is a great opportunity,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Masood noted that the WTC serves as a true test of progress. &ldquo;It allows us to measure ourselves against the best. If we perform well, we&rsquo;ll know we&rsquo;re right up there.&rdquo;&nbsp;Highlighting the value of home advantage, he added, &ldquo;Teams that reach the final have always dominated at home. For us, it&rsquo;s about finding that blueprint and beginning strongly.&rdquo;&nbsp;Final wordWith a relatively shorter schedule of 13 Tests, the second lowest after Sri Lanka, Pakistan&rsquo;s unpredictability could turn into an asset. Fewer games mean less room for prolonged slumps, provided the team maintains consistency.

This is the first occasion since the inception of the ICC World Test Championship in 2019 that Pakistan will be playing their opening series of a WTC cycle at home.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan vs South Africa"