Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi adresses pre-match confernce at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on November 3, 2025. — On-line
FAISALABAD: Pakistan’s newly appointed one-day worldwide (ODI) captain, Shaheen Afridi, is aiming for a robust efficiency in his debut collection as skipper within the 50-over format, which begins Tuesday towards South Africa in Faisalabad.
“It’s an honour for me to steer the nation,” the 25-year-old stated in a pre-match press convention whose first stint as T20I captain ended after a 4-1 defeat in New Zealand final yr.
“Even as a player, wearing the national colours is always a matter of pride — but now, as captain, there is an added sense of responsibility,” Shaheen added.
When requested about being handed the ODI captaincy following his earlier stint as T20I skipper, Shaheen maintained a composed response.
“Our job is to serve Pakistan cricket and fulfil whatever role we’re given. Leadership appointments are the management’s decisions, and we respect that. My focus right now is on improving our one-day cricket and leading the team from the front,” he stated.
With Shaheen, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah within the assault and Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Rizwan within the squad, the house group will likely be at full energy.
South Africa, nonetheless, will likely be with out their injured common skipper ,Temba Bavuma, and 7 key gamers, together with the tempo duo of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, who’re rested.
The captaincy is entrusted to newcomer Matthew Breetzke, who hit the highest-ever rating on ODI debut of 150, which got here towards New Zealand in Lahore earlier this yr.
Regardless of the under-strength squad, Breetzke put up a courageous 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,” stated Breetzke.
South Africa’s star Quinton de Kock will make a comeback to ODI cricket after reversing his 2023 retirement earlier than the tour.
The three-match ODI collection is part of the Proteas tour of Pakistan, that includes an all-format collection. A two-match Check collection was shared by each groups 1-1, whereas Pakistan gained the three-match T20I collection 2-1.
In the meantime, Shaeen and his counterpart Breetzke unveiled the glittering trophy for the three-match ODI collection between.
Worldwide cricket returns to Faisalabad after 17 years
With the ODI collection commencing from Tuesday on the Iqbal Stadium, worldwide cricket is making a return to Faisalabad after 17 years. The remaining matches will likely be performed on 6 and eight November on the similar venue.
The final worldwide match on the Iqbal Stadium was performed on 11 April 2008, when Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in an ODI by seven wickets. The historic venue has hosted 16 ODIs to this point, together with 4 World Cup matches – one in 1987 and three in 1996.
Pakistan have featured in 12 ODIs at this floor, successful 9 and shedding three. South Africa, however, have performed 5 ODIs right here, successful two and shedding three. Throughout all ODIs between the 2 sides, Pakistan and South Africa have met 87 instances, with Pakistan successful 34 and South Africa rising victorious in 52 encounters. In Pakistan, each groups have gained eight matches every out of 16.
In Faisalabad, Pakistan and South Africa have contested in three ODIs. Pakistan have gained on two events (in 1994 and 2007), whereas South Africa secured victory in a single (2003).
—With extra enter from AFP
