After a 17-year wait, international cricket returns to Faisalabad as Pakistan takes on South Africa in a highly anticipated ODI clash at the historic Iqbal Stadium. Fans are gearing up to witness action-packed cricket in the city after more than a decade. Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium is set to host a three-match ODI series starting Tuesday, 4 November, with the remaining matches on 6 and 8 November. 🏏The toss will be at 2:30 PM, and the first ball at 3 PM local time.
- The interesting part: When the last ODI was held in Faisalabad, Babar Azam was mentoring a young 14-year-old. Today, that youngster is 31 and has become a true master of the game!
- Historic Faisalabad Stats:
🏏Last ODI here: 11 April 2008, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 7 wickets.
🏏16 ODIs hosted in total, including 4 World Cup matches (1987 & 1996).
🏏Pakistan in Faisalabad: 12 ODIs, 9 wins, 3 losses.
🏏South Africa in Faisalabad: 5 ODIs, 2 wins, 3 losses.
🏏Pakistan vs South Africa overall: 87 ODIs, Pakistan 34 wins, South Africa 52 wins.
🏏Head-to-Head in Faisalabad:
3 ODIs played: Pakistan won 1994 & 2007, South Africa 2003.
Series Context:
Follows competitive Test (1-1 draw) and T20I series (Pakistan won 2-1).
Shaheen Shah Afridi leads Pakistan in ODIs for the first time.
Key Players to Watch:
Babar Azam: 744 runs in 15 matches.
Shaheen Shah Afridi: 25 wickets in 13 matches.
Shaheen Shah Afridi on Faisalabad ODI Return:
“It is exciting to see international cricket return to Faisalabad after 17 years. We are looking forward to performing well against South Africa. The team played good cricket in the T20I series and we aim to carry that momentum into the ODIs.”
Pakistan ODI Squad:
Shahen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
