LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria said Sunday that two of its nationals were killed last month in South Africa following violent anti-immigrant protests targeting African workers in the country.
The Nigerians were killed June 28, two days before an unofficial deadline by protesters for foreigners to leave, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. One was allegedly killed by police officers and the other by unidentified attackers, it said.
South African police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Anti-immigrant protesters in April and May blamed foreigners for high levels of unemployment, crime and pressure on public services. The violence at the protests and attacks on Africans prompted Nigeria, Ghana and Malawi to repatriate their citizens and summon South African diplomats.
“These two killings come at a time when foreigners are being unduly targeted in South Africa. This raises questions about deliberate attempt by some elements to wrongfully generalise and tag well-meaning, hard-working, and respectable Nigerians as criminals,” Nigerian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said.
South Africa has a history of violence sparked by anger over the presence of migrants, including in 2008, when more than 60 people were killed in what international rights groups called xenophobic attacks on foreigners.
Nigerian nationals repatriated from South Africa, following concerns about unrest, arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Babar Azam has returned to lead Pakistan’s test cricket team after Shan Masood was axed from the role on Sunday.
Masood’s firing seemed inevitable after the team lost 12 of 16 matches during his tenure, which began when he initially replaced Babar in late 2023.
“We wanted to look for a captain who could lead the team in a much better way,” selector Aaqib Javed told media in Lahore. “Shan’s individual performance was good but as captain we weren’t getting the desired results.”
Javed said the selection committee was unanimous in recommending Babar as captain and no other player came up in the discussion.
Pakistan’s results in test matches took a sharp decline since Masood lost 3-0 to Australia in his first series. Pakistan also lost 2-0 to Bangladesh at home for the first time and the only series win under Masood’s captaincy came against England at home when Pakistan won 2-1 as eventually Pakistan finished at bottom of the last World Test Championship points table.
Javed pointed out several shortcomings of the Pakistan team in test matches under Masood’s leadership that included losses against South Africa and the West Indies.
“The captain has a responsibility of finishing the games,” Javed said. “Some things are the responsibility of the team, some are the responsibility of the selectors, and some are the responsibility of the captain. The captain’s responsibility also includes maintaining the team’s over rate, taking DRS decisions and making the right call at the toss.”
Masood had a fair time with the bat during his captaincy as he scored two centuries and seven half centuries, including back-to-back fifties at Melbourne against Australia.
Babar had led Pakistan to 10 wins in 20 tests before Masood was handed the captaincy. Babar's tenure as skipper started with a 2-0 home win over South Africa and Pakistan also went on to clean sweep Bangladesh and Sri Lanka away from home.
As captain, Babar averaged over 50 runs per innings in test cricket and his only blemish came against England when Pakistan lost 3-0 at home.
Babar’s second stint as skipper starts with two-test series in West Indies later this month for which Pakistan named Masood as one of the 16 players. After the West Indies series, Pakistan will play three test matches in England for which Saud Shakeel will be added as a 17th player, subject to fitness.
Left-arm spinner Ali Usman, right-handed batter Awais Zafar, right-arm fast bowler Ubaid Shah and wicketkeeper batter Ghazi Ghori are the uncapped players in the squad.
Squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imamul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Pakistan Cricket Board's Director High Performance and member of the selection committee Aaqib Javed speaks during a news conference to announce the squad for Test squads for the tours of the West Indies and England in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Jun 5, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
FILE - Pakistan's cricket team skipper Babar Azam speaks during a press conference regarding up coming Twenty20 series against Ireland, England and T20 World Cup, in Lahore, Pakistan, on May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary, File)
