Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi and his South African counterpart Matthew Breetzke current for Toss of first ODI at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on November 4, 2025. — PCB
Pakistan gained the toss and opted to bowl first within the first one-day worldwide (ODI) of a three-match collection towards South Africa on the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Tuesday.
Pakistan skipper Shaheen Afridi stated the choice was influenced by the freshness of the wicket and the lengthy interval since Faisalabad final hosted an ODI.
South Africa captain Matthew Breetzke stated that the floor appeared dry, predicting dew would affect play later within the night.
Taking part in XIs:
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi (c), Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke (c), Sinethemba Qeshile, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, and Lizaad Williams.
The three-match ODI collection is part of the Proteas tour of Pakistan, that includes an all-format collection. The 2-match Take a look at collection was shared by each groups 1-1, whereas Pakistan gained the three-match T20I collection 2-1.
With the primary ODI, worldwide cricket has returned to Faisalabad after 17 years. The remaining matches will probably be performed on 6 and eight November on the identical venue.
The final worldwide match on the Iqbal Stadium was performed on April 11, 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, alternatively, 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 occasions, 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).
