South African cricket Series in Pakistan

[ghazi52]

Test rankings permutations as Pakistan take on South Africa

Men in Green are presently languishing seventh on the table

Pakistan Cricket Board
25 January, 2021

PHOTO COURTESY: PCB



Babar Azam has an opportunity to make an immediate impact as Pakistan’s 34th Test captain as a 2-0 series win will take his side to fifth on the ICC Test team rankings.

Pakistan are presently languishing seventh on the table but irrespective of how the Galle Test between Sri Lanka and England pans out, victories in the Karachi and Rawalpindi Tests will lift Pakistan from 84 points to 90 points which will make them displace South Africa who are currently on 90 points (five points drop).

However, Pakistan will be ranked above South Africa in fifth place when the points are calculated beyond the decimal point. If this happens, then it will be the first time since January 2017 when Pakistan will move to No.5 on the Test table.

Meanwhile, Babar will eye a return to the top-five in the batting charts. Going into the Galle Test, Root leads Babar by two points but if both batsmen perform strongly, then Babar can potentially move ahead of the Englishman as he will be playing against a high-ranked side.

The next highest-ranked Pakistan batsman on the batting table is Azhar Ali, who is 19th – just two points behind India’s Rohit Sharma. He is followed by Mohammad Rizwan (36th) and Abid Ali (67th).

In the bowling table, Yasir is Pakistan’s highest-ranked bowler in 25th position and will be aiming to improve his ranking, while 33rd ranked Shaheen Shah Afridi can move up to as high as 29th if he manages to take some wickets at the National Stadium.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan, South Africa Test series trophy unveiled

The Frontier Post
January 25, 2021


KARACHI: A ceremony to unveil the trophy of Test series between Pakistan and South Africa was held in Karachi today (Monday).

Pakistan Test cricket team skipper Babar Azam and South Africa captain Quinton D Kcock were present at the event to unveil the trophy.

The first test match between the two teams will be played on January 26 in Karachi at 10:00 AM.

Earlier, Pakistan cricket selectors had confirmed a 17-player squad who will be available for the first Test against South Africa, which will begin on Tuesday.

According to the press release of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the remaining three players will continue to be part of the squad and will feature in warm-up and training sessions at the National Stadium.

The playing line-up with now be finalised by the captain in consultation with the head coach.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan's top order crumbles before South Africa in first Karachi Test

AFP | Dawn.com
January 26, 2021

Pakistan's spinner Yasir Shah, second from right, celebrates with teammates on the dismissal of South Africa's batsman Faf du Plessis during the first day of the first cricket test match between Pakistan and South Africa at the National stadium on Jan 26. — AP

Abid Ali is bowled out by South Africa's Kagiso Rabada (unseen) during the first day of the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi on January 26. — AFP

Pakistan's captain Babar Azam (R), wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan (C) and Nauman Ali celebrate the
dismissal of South Africa's Dean Elgar during the first day of the first cricket Test match between Pakistan and South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi on Tuesday. — AFP

Pakistan's wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan shatters bails to run-out South Africa's batsman Rassie van der Dussen during the first day of the first cricket test match between Pakistan and South Africa at the National stadium on Jan 26. — AP


Pakistan were four down for 33 by the 18th over in their first Test against South Africa in Karachi on Tuesday.

Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam were unbeaten on five each after South African pace bowler Kagiso Rabada rocked the top order with two wickets for just eight runs.

Opener Abid Ali was the first to go, when he was bowled by Kagiso Rabada in the fifth over after scoring just four runs. Rabada struck again in the seventh over and Imran Butt (9) was caught by Keegan Petersen.

Skipper Babar Azam only scored a meagre 7 before he fell to Keshav Maharaj in the 16th over.

Earlier, South Africa were bowled out for 220.

Spinners Yasir Shah (3-54) and debutant Nauman Ali (2-38) destroyed the tourists on a brownish pitch after South Africa won the toss and batted.


Dean Elgar top-scored with 58 while George Linde made 35.

Opener Elgar struck his 16th Test half-century, laced with nine boundaries before he edged debutant Nauman into the hands of Babar Azam in the slip.

Elgar and Faf du Plessis (23) had steadied the innings during their 45-run stand for the third wicket after Aiden Markram (13) and Rassie van der Dussen (17) were dismissed in the first session.

Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi had Markram caught in the slip, while van der Dussen was run out after attempting a quick single, with wicketkeeper Rizwan diving acrobatically to dislodge the wickets.
The tourists were 179-6 at tea after Nauman dismissed South African skipper Quinton de Kock (15) and Elgar (58) as South Africa fumbled from a steady 94-2 at lunch.

At tea Geroge Linde (25) and Keshav Maharaj (nought) were at the crease as South Africa – who won the toss and batted – were left to fight on a brownish pitch, which had started to take slow spin.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and South Africa captain Quinton de Kock look on during the toss. — DawnNewsTV



Proteas captain Quinton de Kock earlier won the toss and opted to bat, hoping to get a big first-innings total.
South Africa entered the Test — their first in Pakistan in 14 years — with two spinners, Keshav Maharaj and George Linde, to exploit a bare pitch which is expected to take spin.

Pakistan handed Test caps to 34-year-old left-arm spinner Nauman Ali and 25-year-old opener Imran Butt in a combination of three pacers and two spinners.

Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar, who has officiated on-field in the most international games (391), is supervising his first test in Pakistan since making his debut in 2000.

Dar got his first opportunity at home after the International Cricket Council allowed the appointment of local match officials for international matches because of travel restrictions in place for the Covid-19 pandemic.



Teams


Pakistan

Babar Azam (captain), Abid Ali, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan, Nauman Ali, Yasir Shah, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi



South Africa

Quinton de Kock (capt), Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Anrich Nortje, George Linde


Umpires

Aleem Dar (PAK) and Ahsan Raza (PAK) Tv umpire: Asif Yaqoob (PAK)

Match referee

Mohammad Javed Malik (PAK)

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan 308-8 on day two of first Test as Fawad century gives hosts upper hand


AFP
January 27, 2021

Azhar Ali, front, and Fawad Alam run between the wickets during the second day of the first Test match between Pakistan and South Africa at the National Stadium, in Karachi on Wednesday, Jan 27. — AP

Fawad Alam plays a shot during the second day of the first Test match between Pakistan and South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi on January 27, 2021. — AFP

Faheem Ashraf follows the ball after playing a shot for boundary while Quinton de Kock watches during the second day of the first cricket Test match between Pakistan and South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday. — AP


Pakistan were 308 for eight — a lead of 88 — at the close of play on Wednesday on the second day of the opening Test against South Africa in Karachi.

Resuming at 33-4, Pakistan's recovery was led by Fawad Alam (109) who scored his first Test century at home, Faheem Ashraf (64), and Azhar Ali (51).

Fawad reached the milestone, his third tonne in Test cricket, with a six over long-on to left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.

Earlier, Azhar Ali and Alam led Pakistan's resistance against South Africa after the hosts began the day four down with a paltry 33 runs on the board.

Playing his first Test at home, Fawad was rock-solid as he added 94 with former skipper Azhar for the fifth wicket, leaving South Africa without a scalp in the first session.

Pakistan added 71 in the first session before spinner Keshav Maharaj broke through by dismissing Azhar for 51, caught behind by Quinton de Kock.

Azhar struck four boundaries in his 151-ball knock.

Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and Alam added another 55 for the sixth wicket before the former was caught at slip off paceman Lungi Ngidi.

It was a hard going for South Africa in the first session.

Kagiso Rabada, who took two wickets for just eight runs late on Tuesday, looked threatening in his six-over spell, but Azhar and Fawad batted cautiously to take Pakistan past 100.

Both batsmen survived scares, with left-arm spinner George Linde coming close to trapping Azhar leg-before on 29 — the umpire's not-out decision upheld on review.

Fawad was dropped on 35 by Dean Elgar, who failed to hold a sharp edge off-spinner Keshav Maharaj in the slips.

 

[alphapak]

The selectors are idiots who kept Fawad Alam out for so long. He was a top scorer in
domestic for so many years but kept getting overlooked because of his playing style.

 

[ghazi52]

Pak vs SA: Fawad Alam's 'revolutionary sweeping stance' goes viral on social media

Fawad Alam playing during South Africa series.


Pakistani cricketer Fawad Alam has always managed to amuse fans owing to his unorthodox batting stance. However, his latest sweep shot has generated quite an interest on social media as well.

A resilient Fawad rose to the occasion once again, helping build a crucial partnership with former Test skipper Azhar Ali against South Africa in the first Test match in Karachi.

During his innings, Fawad played the sweep shot and fell on the pitch while doing so. Twitter, of course, was interested.

Here are some of the memes that the sweep shot generated on social media.

 

[ghazi52]

South Africa resist to reach 84-1 at tea after Pakistan's big lead in first Test


AFP
January 28, 2021

Pakistan were bowled out for 378 on the third day of the opening Test in Karachi on Thursday. — Photo courtesy: ICC Twitter

Dean Elgar, left, ad Aiden Markram run between the wickets during the third day of the first cricket Test match between Pakistan and South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi on Thursday. — AP


South African batsmen thwarted Pakistan's spin attack to reach 84-1 at tea on the third day of the first Test in Karachi on Thursday.

Earlier, Pakistan scored 378 to take a 158-run lead over South Africa's first innings total of 220.
At the break, Aiden Markram was on 34 and Rassie van der Dussen was on 17.

The visitors need another 74 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Markram, dropped on 27 by Pakistan skipper Babar Azam off spinner Yasir Shah in the slips, has added 36 for the second wicket with Dussen.

South Africa were off to a confident start with Markram and Dean Elgar defying Pakistan's attack, and were 37 without loss at lunch.

Elgar, in visible discomfort after being hit on the left hand by a rising delivery from pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, was caught by diving wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan off Yasir for 29.

In the morning, Pakistan's tail added 70 runs to frustrate South Africa, who were looking for quick wickets.

South Africa's pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada bowled Hasan Ali for 21 to reach 200 wickets in his 44th Test.

Rabada, 25, is the eighth South African to take 200 or more Test wickets.

Pakistan were 323-9 at that point, but Yasir and Nauman Ali added 55 valuable runs for the final wicket.

Yasir, who scored a Test century in Australia in 2019, hit a six and four fours in his 38 not out, while debutant Nauman scored three boundaries before falling for 24.

Rabada with 3-70 and spinner Keshav Maharaj, who took 3-90, were the pick of the South African bowlers.

On Wednesday, Fawad Alam led Pakistan's recovery against South Africa after scoring his first Test century at home.

Fawad reached the milestone, his third tonne in Test cricket, with a six over long-on to left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.

The two-match Test series is South Africa's first in Pakistan for 14 years. The second Test will be played in Rawalpindi from February 4.

The hosts have won only one of their previous seven Tests against South Africa in Pakistan, with the visitors claiming two victories to go with four draws.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

 

[masterchief_mirza]

Not as avid a follower of this failing sport as I used to be, but one thing is for certain - we messed up Fawad Alam's once promising career a decade ago.

 

[ghazi52]

Late strikes keep Pakistan on top in first South Africa Test

In the end, the Proteas made 187 runs and lead by 29 runs at the end of day three


Kamil Ehsan
28 January, 2021

PHOTO COURTESY: PCB


South Africa produced a stellar display of attritional batting on day three of the first Test against Pakistan to spark a dramatic turnaround after their lackluster effort in the first innings.

On a pitch that had flattened considerably as compared to the first two days, the South African openers Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar came out with the goal of wiping Pakistan’s 158-run lead.

A 48-run partnership at the top set the stage for South Africa’s batting performance for the day as the batsmen bided their time in an effort to grind the Pakistan bowlers.

It took the brilliance of wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, off the bowling of leg-spinner Yasir Shah, to remove the well-set Dean Elgar (29 runs off 45 deliveries), who was out caught-behind.
Markram was then joined in the middle by batsman Rassie van der Dussen and the duo quickly set about their long vigil at the crease. The batsmen knitted together a partnership of 127 runs after facing a mammoth 310 balls.

The Proteas seemed on track to end the day on a high before a dramatic flurry of wickets towards the end dented their flawless performance with the bat for most of the day.

Dussen fell to Yasir Shah, late in the day, as fielder Abid Ali held on to a sharp chance at silly mid-on. The batsman had made 64 runs off 151 balls however his dismissal opened the floodgates as the Pakistan bowlers continued to put pressure on the new batsmen.

The veteran batsman Faf du Plessis (10 runs off 21 deliveries) fell to spinner Yasir Shah quickly, trapped LBW dead in front, much to the jubilation of the Pakistan bowlers who had toiled without much reward throughout the better part of the day.

Spinner Nouman Ali soon joined the late surge, picking up the vital wicket of opener Aiden Markram, caught again at silly mid-on by fielder Abid Ali, after the batsman had blocked the bowlers for 224 deliveries scoring 74 runs.

With mounting pressure, batsman Quinton de Kock and nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj saw off the resurgent Pakistan attack to make sure their side finished the day with just four wickets down.

In the end, the Proteas made 187 runs and lead by 29 runs at the end of day three. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan picking up three wickets while a solitary wicket from fellow spinner Nauman Ali helped the Men in Green tremendously as well.

Earlier, Pakistan needed to add some quick runs to their first-innings lead from day two with just two wickets in hand.

Tailender Hasan Ali, whose batting credentials received a significant boost with a match-turning century in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final, was the first to depart after being unable to handle the raw pace of fast-bowler Kagiso Rabada. He was bowled after scoring 21 runs off 33 deliveries.

As the last wicket of the Men in Green, tailender Yasir Shah came out swinging and was able to stitch a 55-run partnership off 64 deliveries with fellow tailender Nauman Ali, much to the frustration of the Proteas bowlers.

Yasir Shah remained unbeaten towards the end of Pakistan’s first innings as Nauman Ali was adjudged LBW off the bowling of Keshav Maharaj after scoring 24 runs off 49 deliveries.

Pakistan ended with a lead of 158 runs, which seemed substantial at the time, but proved insignificant towards the end of day three.

Among South Africa’s bowlers, pacer Kagiso Rabada and spinner Keshav Maharaj picked up three wickets each while pacers Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi took two wickets each.

 

[ghazi52]

Nauman and Yasir shine as Pakistan beat South Africa in first Test

AFP
January 29, 2021

Pakistan's spinner Yasir Shah jumps to celebrate after taking the wicket of South Africa's Quinton de Kock during the fourth day of the first cricket test match between Pakistan and South Africa at the National Stadium on Jan 29. — AP

Pakistan's spinner Nauman Ali, second right, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of South Africa's George Linde, left, during the fourth day of the first cricket test match between Pakistan and South Africa at the National Stadium on Jan 29. — AP


Nauman Ali made a spectacular debut with five wickets and fellow spinner Yasir Shah grabbed four to give Pakistan a seven-wicket victory in the first Test against South Africa in Karachi on Friday.

Nauman, making his Test bow at the age of 34, finished with 5-35 and Yasir took 4-79 as South Africa slumped to 245 all out in their second innings on the fourth day on a wearing National Stadium pitch that favoured spin bowlers.

Pakistan, needing 88 for victory, lost openers Abid Ali, Imran Butt and Babar Azam for a total of 52 runs before achieving the target in 22.5 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
The second Test starts on February 4 in Rawalpindi.
Azhar Ali was 31 not out while Fawad Alam — who hit a fighting hundred in the first innings — hit the winning boundary.

It was only Pakistan's fifth victory against South Africa in 27 Tests.


Anrich Nortje bowled Abid in the first over after lunch and then had Butt caught behind to finish with figures of 2-24.

Azam, on his Test captaincy debut, was dismissed leg before by Keshav Maharaj.
“The credit goes to the players,” said Azam. “Our bowling was outstanding on a slow pitch and the way Yasir and Nauman bowled, it helped us get wickets.

“When we lost four early wickets Fawad and Azhar put on a good partnership as they showed their experience. It gave us a boost and a very crucial lead.”

Azam's counterpart Quinton de Kock, who endured a miserable 50th Test of his career, rued South Africa's first innings collapse.

“I think our first innings cost us the game,” said de Kock. “That was a big reason for our loss.”

It is South Africa's first tour of Pakistan in 14 years, after a deadly attack on Sri Lanka's team in 2009 halted visits by foreign sides.

De Kock dismissed suggestions that South Africa took too long to adjust to the conditions.
“We practised enough here but I think we were a bit soft in the first innings,” he said.


Rapid conclusion


In a spinners' battle on a brownish wicket, Nauman recorded figures of 7-73 and Yasir 7-133. In contrast, South Africa's spin bowlers managed just four wickets.

Pakistan had taken a crucial 158-run first innings lead thanks to a fighting century from Fawad and half centuries from Faheem Ashraf and Azhar.

The writing was on the wall as South Africa lost nightwatchman Maharaj on the first ball of the day, bowled for two by pacer Hasan Ali.

De Kock followed his 15 in the first innings with just two runs as he was caught off a lazy push off Yasir.

Temba Bavuma, who scored 40, added 42 for the seventh wicket with George Linde before being the last man out as Nauman took the last four wickets in a rapid 22 balls.

Having earlier removed Aiden Markram, who was caught by Abid Ali, Nauman dismissed Linde for 11, Kagiso Rabada for a single run, and Anrich Nortje for a duck, before trapping Bavuma lbw.
His impressive performance made him just the 12th Pakistani bowler to take five wickets in an innings on his debut.
The hosts have won only one of their previous seven Tests against South Africa in Pakistan, with the visitors claiming two victories to go with four draws.

 

[terry5]

Congratulations and wonderful game .

 

[ghazi52]

 

[Shehr Abbasi]

I watched this whole match. I thoroughly enjoyed sweet performance of all-rounder Nauman Ali with both bat and ball. I have commended Fawad Alam for over 6-7 years when he was ignored by PCB, I am glad to see that my favorite batsman finally has cemented spot on the national Test team after so many years of struggle against corruption and grimy politics in Pakistan.