Faisalabad (Web Desk): Pakistan chose to bowl first after winning the toss in the opening one-day international (ODI) of the three-match series against South Africa at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Tuesday.
The ODI series is part of South Africa’s ongoing all-format tour of Pakistan.
Earlier in the tour, both teams shared the two-match Test series 1-1, while Pakistan claimed the T20I series 2-1.
The first ODI also signifies the revival of international cricket in Faisalabad after a gap of 17 years. The remaining two games of the series will take place at the same venue on November 6 and 8.
The last time an international fixture was held at the Iqbal Stadium was on April 11, 2008, when Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in an ODI. So far, the stadium has hosted 16 ODIs, including four matches from the Cricket World Cup—one in 1987 and three in 1996.
Pakistan have played 12 ODIs at this ground, winning nine and losing three. South Africa’s record here includes two wins and three defeats from five matches.
In total, both teams have faced each other 87 times in ODIs, with Pakistan emerging victorious in 34 matches and South Africa in 52, while one match produced no result. In
Pakistan, the rivalry has been evenly matched, with both sides winning eight games each out of 16.
In Faisalabad specifically, Pakistan and South Africa have met three times before, with Pakistan winning in 1994 and 2007, while South Africa claimed victory in 2003.
Teams
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.