‘Immediately iconic’: PM, cricket fraternity heap reward on Pakistan’s historic win

Pakistan’s white-ball skipper Mohammad Rizwan (L) fist bumping Vice-Captain Salman Ali Agha throughout the ODI in opposition to South Africa on the Nationwide Stadium Karachi on February 12, 2025. — AFP

Pakistan recorded a six-wicket win in opposition to South Africa within the eliminatory match of the continued Tri-Nation Sequence on Wednesday after skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha established a report partnership of 260 runs and bought their group a spot within the ultimate of the sequence. 

The stand was solely damaged when Agha was eliminated by Lungi Ngidi within the penultimate over of the innings however the facet managed to say victory as they chased a mammoth 353-run goal on the Nationwide Financial institution Stadium in Karachi on the lack of 4 wickets and 6 balls to spare. 

The win and the duo’s highest partnership in an ODI run chase has garnered the eye and reward of followers, the prime minister and the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to X and posted his congratulatory message to the group. 

“Well played team Pakistan! An important boost ahead of the Champions Trophy. The team’s morale is high. Well done team Pakistan Kudos to team management and Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi,” the PM wrote. 

— X/@CMShehbaz

Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi congratulated Pakistan on the astounding win in opposition to the Proteas saying that the “Pakistani players played magnificently and chased down a tough target”. He added that the gamers have blessed the nation with happiness with this win and by qualifying for the sequence ultimate.

He went on to laud Rizwan and Agha for stepping up when the group wanted them saying that the wicketkeeper-batter actually performed a captain’s innings and counseled the vice-captain’s innings of 134 runs. 

ESPN’s Cricinfo additionally hailed the win and regarded Rizwan-Agha’s efficiency as “instantly iconic” on their X deal with. 

Pacer Rumman Raees, who debuted in opposition to England within the semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2017 and mesmerised everybody together with his means to step up and carry out in a giant match, regarded the win as an “unbelievable performance”. 

— X/@rummanraees15

Famend pacer Junaid Khan, broadly and famously recognized for his spell in an ODI sequence in opposition to India in 2012, additionally congratulated the group and famous that “mature batting leads to such victories”. 

— X/@JunaidKhanREAL

Whereas the official account of the Pakistan Cricket on X said that town of Karachi “witnessed history today” because the facet registered a “memorable chase”. 

— X/@TheRealPCB

Cricket fans from throughout the border additionally could not assist however applaud the group as one wrote on X “Exceptional effort from captain Rizwan and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha”. 

— X/Cric_Rishabh

Furthermore, one other fan famous that all the cricket groups belonging to the subcontinent have gained by massive margins in opposition to massive groups earlier than the graduation of the highly-anticipated ICC Males’s Champions Trophy 2025. 

— X/@rnbhatti

Pakistan is now scheduled to face New Zealand on Friday (February 14) for the ultimate of the Tri-Nation sequence at Nationwide Financial institution Stadium as groups are gearing up for the Champions Trophy starting on February 19 the place the Inexperienced Shirts and the Kiwis will once more lock horns in Karachi for the opening recreation of the mega occasion.