Faisalabad to host ODI cricket match after 17 years

FAISALABAD: The One-Day International series between Pakistan and South Africa starts on Tuesday.

All three matches will be played at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. The first match will be played on November 4, the second match on November 6, and the third and final match on November 8.

International cricket is returning to Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, after 17 years.

The last international match at this ground was the One Day International between Pakistan and Bangladesh on April 11, 2008.

A total of 16 One-Day Internationals have been played at this ground. Pakistan has played 12 One Day Internationals at Iqbal Stadium, out of which they have won 9 and lost 3.

South Africa has played 5 One Day Internationals here, winning 2 and losing 3. Before this One Day series, both teams have played Test and T20 series.

The Test series was tied 1-1, while Pakistan won the T20 series 2-1. Shaheen Shah Afridi is leading the Pakistan team in the One-Day International for the first time.

Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi says that it is an honor for him to lead the Pakistan team, and he will try to fulfill this responsibility well.

He said that the return of international cricket to Faisalabad after seventeen years is welcome, and we are hopeful of a good performance in this series against South Africa.

We have played the T20 series well. Shaheen Afridi said that as players, our job is to play and fulfill whatever responsibility is given.

At the moment, his focus is on the ODIs and how to improve his performance.

About Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi says that his confidence must have increased from the last T20 innings, and you cannot say that Babar Azam is not a good player because he failed in two or three innings.

He said that whenever senior players perform, the team achieves success.

The Pakistan squad consists of these players: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha.