FAISALABAD, Pakistan (AP) — International cricket returns to Faisalabad after 17 years when new ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi leads Pakistan in three matches against an under-strength South Africa from Tuesday.
Iqbal Stadium last hosted an ODI in 2008, before the terrorist attack on Sri Lanka's team bus the following year forced Pakistan to play home matches in the United Arab Emirates for six years.
Click to Gallery
South Africa's Mathew Breetzke, top center, attends a practice session, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
South Africa's Nandre Burger, left, and teammates warm up before a practice session, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
South Africa's players attend a practice session in Iqbal Cricket Stadium, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
South Africa's players attend a practice session in Iqbal Cricket Stadium, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Since international cricket gradually returned to Pakistan in 2015, major cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan have hosted foreign teams. But Faisalabad was overlooked due to the lack of proper facilities, which have improved over the last couple of years.
“It is exciting to see international cricket return to Faisalabad,” Afridi said on Monday. “The team played good cricket in the T20 series and we aim to carry that momentum into the ODIs.”
Pakistan drew the test series against South Africa 1-1, and defeated the Proteas in the T20s 2-1 after winning back-to-back matches in Lahore.
Pakistan hasn’t impressed in ODIs this year, which led to Afridi replacing Mohammad Rizwan as the skipper. Pakistan lost the triangular series final to New Zealand, missed the semifinals of the Champions Trophy it hosted, and lost in the West Indies 2-1.
Afridi led Pakistan in a T20 series against New Zealand last year but was sacked after losing to the Black Caps 4-1.
“Our job is to ... fulfil the responsibility given to us,” Afridi said. “We respect the decision of the (Pakistan Cricket Board) and now it’s up to me to lead from the front in the ODIs.”
Pakistan has a full-strength squad with Afridi complemented by fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf. Also, T20 captain Fakhar Zaman returns along with Babar Azam, who scored a match-winning 68 in the final T20 on Saturday.
South Africa was without injured captain Temba Bavuma and seven other front-line white-ball players.
The stand-in skipper was Matthew Breetzke, who made a stunning ODI debut during the triangular series in Pakistan when he scored 150 against New Zealand in Lahore.
Quinton de Kock has reversed his 2023 ODI retirement and Tony de Zorzi was their only century-maker during the test series in Pakistan.
“We are lacking the core group of ODI players that we usually have,” Breetzke said. “It offers opportunity for the younger guys to step up.”
The other two ODIs will also be in Faisalabad on Thursday and Saturday.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
South Africa's Mathew Breetzke, top center, attends a practice session, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
South Africa's Nandre Burger, left, and teammates warm up before a practice session, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
South Africa's players attend a practice session in Iqbal Cricket Stadium, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
South Africa's players attend a practice session in Iqbal Cricket Stadium, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
