Tag: Pak

SA vs Pak – 2nd Test – Secrets of Newlands pitch keep Pakistan guessing on team combination
There’s a fine line between maximum preparation and cluelessness, and Pakistan are trying to make sure they tread the right side of it. With less than 24 hours to go before the second Test, Pakistan have not yet named a final XI, wanting to glean as much information as possible about what the Newlands surface will do. However, the later, they leave it, the harder it is to make the case the visitors have a side they will be comfortable with heading into the game.

The captain Shan Masood admitted balancing the team was “tricky”. “We’d like to have one final look at the pitch,” he said. “Looks a bit different, less grass cover. South Africa have had the luxury of having a training session earlier than us. We’d like to take our time and see what the best possible XI is.”

The Newlands surface is under scrutiny following what happened in the previous Test played here. In the first Test for new groundsman Braam Mong, India beat South Africa in a game which lasted barely 100 overs. Fast bowlers dominated the game, with uneven bounce between bat and ball, with no spin bowled; the pitch was given an “unsatisfactory” rating.

With this being the same groundsman’s second Test, interest in the nature of this strip is high on both sides, with Temba Bavuma half-joking he was told he “wasn’t allowed to talk about the pitch”. Over the last couple of days, the strip that will see the Test played has had a significant amount of grass removed from it, with heavy rollers going over the surface multiple times.

Either way, South Africa have named their side, with spinner Keshav Maharaj coming in. But it’s a bit more complex for Pakistan. Masood pointed out one of South Africa’s strengths was their seam bowling allrounders and deep batting line-up, saying it went right down to “Rabada at 10”, following his heroics in the fourth innings in Centurion.

If Pakistan are to play a specialist spinner, it will invariably come at the expense of a seam bowler. That leaves them with just three seamers, which Masood appeared reluctant to commit to.

“South Africa still have four seamers playing,” Masood said. “They have the luxury of quite a lot of allrounders in the squad. Mulder, Jansen, Bosch, so they can afford to make those decisions. For us, it’ll be slightly trickier. We still feel pace will have a large role to play in these conditions. There was a pattern that was successful for us where [Salman] Agha bowled really well in Australia and take that forward with us. We’ll have to see and probably make a decision in the evening.

“It’s heartening to compete, but we have to be ruthless, and we have to cross that line somewhere. There’s a lot of potential in that side, and if we’re not crossing the line, we’re not doing our talent and ability justice.”

Shan Masood wants his team to do more than merely get into dominant positions in games

Further complicating matters, Aamer Jamal, who played the least significant role among the quicks in Centurion for Pakistan, is their only allrounder, with Masood effectively confirming his place in the XI.

“Aamer links the team together. He’s a very important player in the Test team going forward. That No. 8 position where you can bat as a very decent batter and bowl like a proper fast bowler. Unfortunately, the situation of the match was such apart from his first spell at Centurion he didn’t really get a go. He was brought on at a time where we just took a gamble to have something different, maybe hit the wicket and force Rabada or Jansen to do something else. That was the reason behind that. But we hope he’ll bowl more on this surface.”

It means whichever way Pakistan go, there will be compromises one way or another. But Masood said Pakistan had been taking heart from the way they competed against the side that are “No. 1” in Test cricket. But with Pakistan letting slip a number of dominant positions over the last nine Tests, seven of which Pakistan lost, he understands belief in a side or a system can fall apart if results to prop it up aren’t forthcoming.

“You want to compete against the best, and win against the best,” he said. “It’s heartening to compete, but we have to be ruthless, and we have to cross that line somewhere. There’s a lot of potential in that side, and if we’re not crossing the line, we’re not doing our talent and ability justice. That only comes from a place of care, and yes we all make mistakes and sometimes don’t cross this line, but I really believe this side has the ability, and people have seen there is a lot more to this side than the results suggest.”

Moments after Pakistan finished training, the pitch was, unconventionally, given another heavy dose of watering under a hot sun. After that, the groundstaff threw a white sheet over the strip, and the two surrounding it. The secrets of this Newlands pitch remain concealed overnight, although, even when it stood exposed, few – especially in the Pakistan camp – seemed to really know what to expect from it.

The upcoming second Test between South Africa and Pakistan at Newlands has sparked intrigue and speculation due to the secrets of the pitch that are keeping Pakistan guessing on their team combination.

Newlands is known for its unpredictable and challenging pitch conditions, with seam movement, variable bounce, and swing all playing a role in determining the outcome of matches. This has left Pakistan pondering their options and strategizing on the best team combination to tackle the conditions.

With the pitch at Newlands known to favor fast bowlers, Pakistan may opt to bolster their pace attack, or perhaps include an extra spinner to exploit any potential turn on offer. However, the uncertainty surrounding the pitch’s behavior has made it difficult for Pakistan to finalize their team selection.

On the other hand, South Africa will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and exploit the conditions at Newlands to secure a series victory. With a strong pace attack led by the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, South Africa will be confident in their ability to trouble the Pakistani batsmen on what is expected to be a lively pitch.

As the teams prepare to take the field for the second Test, the secrets of the Newlands pitch will continue to keep Pakistan guessing on their team combination. Only time will tell how the conditions will play out and which team will emerge victorious in this intriguing battle between bat and ball. Stay tuned for all the action from Newlands!

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1. SA vs Pak 2nd Test
2. Newlands pitch secrets
3. Pakistan team combination
4. South Africa vs Pakistan cricket
5. Test match tactics
6. Newlands pitch analysis
7. Team strategy for 2nd Test
8. Pakistan cricket team selection
9. Pitch conditions at Newlands
10. Test match preview
#Pak #2nd #Test #Secrets #Newlands #pitch #Pakistan #guessing #team #combination
January 3, 2025
SA vs Pak 2nd Test – WTC – Kwena Maphaka given a chance to spread his wings and ‘be the man for the team’

Kwena Maphaka does not need to think of himself as being “on trial” when he becomes the youngest Test debutant for South Africa at Newlands on Friday. Maphaka will be 18 years and 270 days old at the time, not yet in possession of his final school results (which come out in about ten days’ time) and has just three first-class matches to his name.

“We know what his talent is about,” Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s Test captain, said on the eve of the game against Pakistan.

Those who watched the white-ball matches against Pakistan, where Maphaka reached speeds above 150kph, already know about some of it. Maphaka’s raw pace was on display when he hit Babar Azam on the glove in the third ODI and then rushed him into a pull shot off the next ball which Babar played to short midwicket. The match before that, his athletic instincts were on full display when he leapt up in his follow through to take a sharp catch to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan. He picked up 4 for 72 in that game.

Those who watched the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year might have seen all this coming. On some of South Africa’s less lively pitches, Maphaka picked up 21 wickets at an eyepopping average of 9.71. South Africa lost in the semi-final but Maphaka’s haul was not overtaken and he was named Player of the Tournament.

But there was one person who knew even before this year’s age-group tournament that Maphaka’s talent was extraordinary: South Africa’s Test coach Shukri Conrad. While working as national U-19 coach a couple of years ago, he remembers “seeing Kwena at the camp and I said to the selectors, ‘This kid’s going with us to the World Cup’. Everybody jumped up and said, ‘what are you talking about? He’s 15 years old’,” Conrad told ESPNcricinfo two days before the match. “I said to them that we might not reap the rewards at this World Cup but we’re definitely going to reap the rewards down the line.”

Maphaka was part of the South Africa squad that travelled to the U-19 World Cup in the Caribbean in 2022. He played three matches and took seven wickets and also had the opportunity to be mentored by the man who would become South Africa’s Test coach a year later. Then, Conrad included Maphaka in a South Africa A squad that toured Sri Lanka in June 2023. Maphaka made his first-class debut on that trip, before he had even played a domestic red-ball match, under Conrad’s watch. So it’s hardly surprising that Conrad brought Maphaka into the squad as soon as he had the opportunity to: once his school examinations were over (which is the reason he did not go on the away Test tours) and there was a vacancy in the attack.

“He seems like he wants to be the man for the team. He has the characteristics to at least to fulfil his potential. And I guess for us it’s to support him and make him feel free to continue being the person that he is”

Temba Bavuma on Kwena Maphaka

With Gerald Coetzee and Wiaan Mulder injured at Kingsmead, Maphaka was brought into the Test squad in the Sri Lanka series but did not play at St George’s Park. Dane Paterson, a slower bowler who moves the ball off the seam, was preferred. Paterson took seven wickets and retained his place for Boxing Day, where allrounder Corbin Bosch debuted. But now, with Mulder back in and carded to bat as high as No. 3, Bosch has dropped out and though Paterson is desperately unlucky to miss out after 13 wickets in his last two Tests, the circumstances are ideal for Maphaka to debut.

“Kwena selection is on potential, more than anything. But obviously, he exudes talent and we wanted to go with an extra bit of pace as well,” Bavuma explained. “Unfortunately, a guy like Dane Paterson, who has been superb for us, misses out. So we’re quite excited for Kwena – also considering the fact that we’ve got a series on the line. We want to give an opportunity to a young guy, when there’s a consequence to it. Whatever happens from his point of view, from a performance point of view, it’ll put him in good stead.”

On eve of the match, it sounded like he may even be entrusted with the new ball alongside Kagiso Rabada. “I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to running in with KG over the next five days,” Bavuma said. “We’re super excited for the young talent.”

As captain, Bavuma will look to balance giving Maphaka a licence to simply do his thing with ensuring that he learns as much as possible from the experience. The message is that there is no pressure on him, but there is the opportunity to lay the groundwork for a long and successful career.

“With a guy like Kwena, you want to allow him to be as free as he can. You want to allow him to continue being the Kwena he is and to allow the exuberance of youth to come out,” Bavuma said. “More specifically with him, it’s a case of Kwena running and bowling as quickly as you can, allowing him to kind of just spread his wings. Obviously with him, he doesn’t have the foundation. A lot of us played first-class cricket, we were able to fail, come back and find a way. He’s just going to have to learn quite quickly but he has the talent that will make it a little bit easier for him. Also, he’s not on trial in this game. We know what his talent is about.”

Though Bavuma has not played a red-ball game with Maphaka before, they have shared the international stage in two ODIs and have trained together. From what Bavuma has seen, Maphaka “seems to have a good understanding of his game, especially at his age; he is a strong competitor as well and you can see it in all the other things that we do, even playing soccer”.

“He seems like he wants to be the man for the team,” Bavuma said. “He has the characteristics to at least to fulfil his potential. And I guess for us it’s to support him and make him feel free to continue being the person that he is.”

The second Test match between South Africa and Pakistan in the World Test Championship is just around the corner, and all eyes are on Kwena Maphaka.

Maphaka, the talented young all-rounder, has shown glimpses of his potential in the past, but now he has been given the chance to truly spread his wings and be the man for the team. With injuries to key players in the squad, Maphaka has been handed the responsibility of stepping up and making a mark in this crucial Test match.

This is the perfect opportunity for Maphaka to showcase his skills and prove his worth to the team. With his explosive batting and handy bowling, he has the ability to make a significant impact on the game and help South Africa secure a vital victory in the World Test Championship.

Fans are eagerly awaiting to see Maphaka in action and witness him rise to the occasion. Will he be able to deliver when it matters the most? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – Kwena Maphaka has the talent and potential to become a key player for South Africa in the future. Let’s cheer him on and hope for a stellar performance in the upcoming Test match. Go Maphaka, go! #SAvsPak #WTC #KwenaMaphaka

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SA vs Pak 2nd Test, WTC, Kwena Maphaka, cricket, South Africa, Pakistan, Test match, World Test Championship, player spotlight, team dynamics, match analysis

#Pak #2nd #Test #WTC #Kwena #Maphaka #chance #spread #wings #man #team

January 3, 2025
SA vs PAK 2024/25, SA vs PAK 2nd Test Match Preview

Big picture

The attempt to give this Test series context may ironically have stripped some from this Test match, especially as far as South Africa are concerned. The hosts have already qualified for the World Test Championship final after beating Pakistan by two wickets in Centurion, and as such, don’t necessarily have a bigger picture to play for. However, they have won eight consecutive Test matches at home against Pakistan, and never not won a home series against these opponents, and in that bilateral context, there remains plenty to play for.

In the days since South Africa qualified, there has been some attention towards the perceived softer nature of their draw en route to the World Test Championship, one that their coach Shukri Conrad made “no apologies” for. But with no Test cricket between this Test and the WTC final, South Africa will want to storm into the final in style, and extend a winning run that already stretches to six games.

Pakistan’s WTC hopes had long ago gone up in smoke, but they need to break out of a habit of letting slip winning positions, a habit in this particular cycle. As a result, they have now lost seven of the last nine Tests, and all of the last eight in South Africa. Centurion was the closest they came to breaking that hoodoo, at one stage two wickets away from a stunning win with South Africa still 49 runs away from victory. But, as has been the case with Pakistan too often, they struggled to finish off the tail with the ball, and watched another one slide through their fingers.

Newlands arguably plays slightly more to their strengths, lacking the express pace South Africa possess. It is a surface that both captains expect to take a bit more spin than Centurion, and should revert back to its natural characteristics after a freak Test last year against India that ended in a day and a half. Both sides are expected to field a spinner, while Pakistan’s seam and swing bowlers may find more joy, especially in the early stages of the Test before the surface flattens out. With just two Test wins in South Africa across three decades of playing here, a victory here – and a drawn series – will go down as their most impressive away Test series result in years.

Form guide (last five completed matches, most recent first)

South Africa: WWWWW

Pakistan: LWWLL

In the spotlight

With spin likely to play a more significant role at Newlands than it did in Centurion, Keshav Maharaj returns to the side. But for all of Newlands supposed accommodation for slower bowling, the left-arm orthodox spinner has a surprisingly indifferent record in Cape Town, managing just 9 wickets in 6 matches at an average in excess of 52. That’s almost double his average of 30.44 in South Africa in general, and Maharaj is returning from an adductor strain that ruled him out of the ODI series. Whether he can begin to turn his Newlands record around may be an intriguing plot point as the Test develops.

It’s not a vintage age for openers in Test cricket, and particularly not Pakistani openers. Until the final Test, they hadn’t produced a partnership over 15 all year, but offered faint glimpses of turning that around with the new pairing of Saim Ayub and Shan Masood, putting up 36 and 49. But neither opener managed to kick on in either innings, something Masood brought up as a point of frustration in Centurion. Against the kind of world-class new ball bowling attack South Africa possess at home, runs for the first wicket are not exactly easy, but Pakistan desperately need them all the same.

Pakistan let another game slip through their fingers, during the first Test•AFP/Getty Images

Team news

South Africa have rung the changes after the first Test, with Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder and debutant fast bowler Kwena Maphaka coming into the side. Opener Tony de Zorzi has a thigh strain, while fast bowling allrounder Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson also drop to the bench.

South Africa: Ryan Rickleton 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Wiaan Mulder (capt), 4 Tristan Stubbs 5 Temba Bavuma (capt) 6 David Bedingham, 7 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj 10 Kagiso Rabada 11 Kwena Maphaka

Pakistan have not yet named an eleven, unsure about playing Noman Ali or simply making do with Salman Ali Agha as lead spinner.

Pakistan: 1 Shan Masood (capt) 2 Saim Ayub 3 Babar Azam 4 Kamran Ghulam 5 Saud Shakeel 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 7 Salman Ali Agha 8 Aamer Jamal/Noman Ali 9 Naseem Shah 10 Mohammad Abbas 11 Khurram Shahzad

Pitch and conditions

“I don’t think I’m allowed to speak about the wicket,” Temba Bavuma joked during the press conference following the ultra-short Test here last year. There’s less grass on it than Centurion, though, with spin coming into it later in the Test.

Stats and trivia
Keshav Maharaj is seven wickets away from becoming the first South African spinner to take 200 Test wickets.

Among current batters in the Pakistan side, none have truly imperious records in South Africa. Babar Azam’s 275 at 34.37 makes him the most prolific, while no active Pakistani has a hundred in this country.

Quotes

“The series is still on the line. So, as much as we’ve ticked off that box of being in the final, we’d still like to be clinical in the series. We’re eyeing two nil. Our focus, our motivation is still there. I think also as a team, as much as we won last week, we accept that we weren’t at our best, betting and bowling. So, in terms of improving in those areas, we’d like to see ourselves being a lot better than we were last week.”
South African captain Temba Bavuma feels there’s still plenty to improve from his side

Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000

South Africa will be taking on Pakistan in the second Test match of their series in the 2024/25 season. After a thrilling first Test that ended in a draw, both teams will be looking to secure a victory in the upcoming match.

South Africa will be looking to continue their strong form at home and build on their performance in the first Test. Their batting line-up, led by the likes of Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram, will be looking to put up a strong total on the board. The bowling attack, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, will be aiming to pick up early wickets and put pressure on the Pakistani batsmen.

On the other hand, Pakistan will be looking to bounce back from their performance in the first Test and put up a better showing in the second match. Their batting line-up, featuring the likes of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, will be looking to put in a strong performance and post a challenging total. The bowling attack, led by Hasan Ali and Yasir Shah, will be aiming to pick up wickets and restrict the South African batsmen.

Overall, the second Test match between South Africa and Pakistan promises to be an exciting and closely contested affair. Both teams will be looking to come out on top and secure a crucial victory in the series. Fans can expect a thrilling battle between bat and ball as these two teams go head-to-head in what is sure to be an entertaining encounter.

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SA vs PAK, South Africa vs Pakistan, 2024/25 cricket series, 2nd Test match preview, key players, match analysis, team news, cricket updates, live score, SA vs PAK series.

#PAK #PAK #2nd #Test #Match #Preview

RSA 301 & 150/8 vs PAK 211 & 237 (Marco Jansen 16(24) Kagiso Rabada 31(26)) | South Africa vs Pakistan, 1st Test, Thu, Dec 26, Pakistan tour of South Africa, 2024 -25

Aiden Markram | Player of the Match – Pretty relieved, that was really tense, to get on the right side is a big thing for us, to get past the winning mark and make it to the WTC final is a big relief for us. Today was the most important knock (compared to the first innings). I would’ve loved to be there at the end, but it didn’t work that way. The wicket changes (at Centurion), the options and the game plans need to be changed (as a batter). You need to be clinical ( as a team on victories), but you take these wins and go ahead at times. I’m not the one for milestones to be honest, I’m not going to make or break any records, but it’s about making an impact and contributing to wins for South Africa. It was challenging (on the pitch), I’m fortunate to have played cricket here while growing up, you’re never in on this wicket, it’s up and down and it’s challenging, batting can be very tricky at times, happy that it came off well this time

South Africa vs Pakistan, 1st Test: RSA 301 & 150/8 vs PAK 211 & 237 (Marco Jansen 16(24) Kagiso Rabada 31(26))

In a thrilling first Test match between South Africa and Pakistan, the hosts managed to take a commanding lead after the first innings. South Africa posted a total of 301 in their first innings, with notable contributions from several batsmen including Kagiso Rabada who scored 31 runs off 26 balls. Pakistan, in response, could only manage 211 runs in their first innings, with the South African bowlers putting on a stellar performance.

In the second innings, Pakistan fought back strongly, posting a total of 237 runs. However, it was not enough to overcome the lead that South Africa had built in the first innings. Marco Jansen played a crucial role in South Africa’s second innings, scoring 16 runs off 24 balls and helping his team extend their lead.

As the match heads into the final day, South Africa find themselves in a strong position with a lead of 177 runs and two wickets remaining. Can Pakistan stage a comeback and pull off a miraculous victory? Stay tuned to find out in what promises to be an exciting conclusion to this gripping Test match.

Tags:

RSA vs PAK 1st Test 2024-25, South Africa vs Pakistan, Marco Jansen vs Kagiso Rabada, RSA 301 & 150/8 vs PAK 211 & 237, Test Match Analysis

#RSA #PAK #Marco #Jansen #Kagiso #Rabada #South #Africa #Pakistan #1st #Test #Thu #Dec #Pakistan #tour #South #Africa

Nintendo 64 N64 Console System Only With Expansion Pak – NUS-001

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SA vs Pak – Marco Jansen wants SA to be disciplined as WTC final beckons

A return of 6 for 52 should not be described in terms other than glowing, but even Marco Jansen will tell you that none of the four deliveries he got wickets with at SuperSport Park on day three of the first Test against Pakistan on Saturday were a true reflection of his abilities.

“I’ve struggled the whole game, to be honest,” he said after the day’s play. “I feel like I’ve not been as consistent as I should be – if that makes sense – regarding line and length. Everything wasn’t clicking.”

That assessment applies to parts of the bowling in all three completed innings so far. In Pakistan’s first, Kagiso Rabada was by far the most threatening of South Africa’s attack but went wicketless, while Corbin Bosch admitted some of his wickets came off balls the batters didn’t need to play at.

In South Africa’s first innings, Pakistan were at times listless, and offered too many boundary balls to Aiden Markram initially, and Bosch later on. Then, in Pakistan’s second innings, Rabada and Dane Paterson struggled for rhythm initially, and Bosch was off the mark before Temba Bavuma turned to Jansen to make something happen.

Jansen’s fifth ball was short and wide, and Babar Azam, who had just got to his fifty, could not resist. He slashed it to deep point, where Bavuma had positioned Bosch, and Jansen received his first post-Christmas gift. Two overs later, Mohammad Rizwan got a short ball angling down leg and followed it with a half-hearted pull to be caught behind. In the over after that, Salman Agha drove leaden-footed at a full, wide ball. There are questions to be asked about all three batters’ shot selections, but South Africa always expected them to choose those kinds of strokes.

“We know most of their batters like to play a positive brand of Test cricket. So we know that if we stick to our lines and lengths, they might leave one or two [balls], but their tendencies are they’ll go at one,” Jansen said. “We always knew that we’re in the game, and we always knew that something’s going to happen.”

The most comical was yet to come when Saud Shakeel, on 84, was the recipient of a full toss that struck him on the pad, as he missed an attempted flick. Shakeel was hit under the knee roll, which says something about where Jansen planned for the ball to pitch before he got it a little wrong.

“I wanted to go for the yorker, but I probably missed it by a shin’s length,” Jansen said. “At the end of the day, people can say what they want. [But] he missed it, and it’s a wicket. So I’m happy for that.”

There was laughter all around when Jansen said that, which is a reflection of how entertaining this Test has been, although the quality of cricket has sometimes been questionable. Because both sides have provided some underwhelming cricket, it created a contest, albeit perhaps not an elite one. That was saved for the last 40 minutes, when Pakistan’s seamers, while defending only 147, dished up spicy opening spells as the clouds gathered overhead to gawk on South Africa’s increasingly knotted nerves.

Three of their top four were dismissed to the new ball being bowled on the right lengths, which was just short of a good length, even as the Pakistan quicks also took advantage of the extra bounce and nip on offer. Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs have all had their last say on this match, and South Africa could not be too unhappy with what happened to them.

“The three wickets they got were three good balls, so it’s not like we threw our wickets away,” Jansen said. “That’s not to make it seem better. But as long as they get us out with good balls, there’s only so much you can do as a batter. You can only play what you see – you can’t pre-empt or pre-meditate what you want to do – because on this pitch, you’re going to get yourself in trouble.”

“Once the ball gets older, it gets a lot easier to bat, and it’s a nice scoring ground. So with the new ball, [it is] definitely going to move sideways, and then the odd ball will shoot up and the odd ball will also keep low”

Marco Jansen on the SuperSport Park pitch

If Jansen ends up batting in the chase, that might mean South Africa are in some trouble, although they bat deep and he has a plan.

“My mental point of view is to be as disciplined as possible for as long as possible. We know that with the new ball, it moves quite sharply here – especially in the second innings of the game,” he said. “Once the ball gets older, it gets a lot easier to bat, and it’s a nice scoring ground. So with the new ball, [it is] definitely going to move sideways, and then the odd ball will shoot up and the odd ball will also keep low.

“From my perspective, if the ball shoots up, just get your hands out of the way, and then if the ball keeps a bit low, just stay nice and tight in terms of your bat next to your pad. Those two are the difficult ones to keep out. The balls that move sideways, we’re used to that, so I think those are going to be the challenges for tomorrow.”

Explained in those purely cricketing terms, it sounds as though South Africa have a good grasp of what is required of them. But there will be much more than just bat vs ball going on on Sunday. There is the expectation of securing this win to reach next year’s World Test Championship final, and the pressure of being South African in a chase. You may think there is also some cushioning because South Africa only need to win one out of this and the next Test. But putting themselves in a must-win situation at Newlands will come with its own set of mind games.

South Africa will want to finish the job here, but for that, they will need the kind of steel that has not yet been on display at SuperSport Park. But with so much at stake, it may be time for something we’ve not seen so far.

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s correspondent for South Africa and women’s cricket

As the ICC World Test Championship final draws closer, South African cricketer Marco Jansen has emphasized the importance of discipline for his team as they gear up to face Pakistan in a crucial Test series.

Jansen, who has been a standout performer for South Africa in recent matches, believes that maintaining discipline both on and off the field will be key to their success against a strong Pakistani side. With the World Test Championship final against India looming, Jansen knows that a strong performance against Pakistan will be crucial in building momentum and confidence for the final showdown.

The young all-rounder has urged his teammates to stay focused, stick to their game plans, and execute their skills with precision in order to come out on top in the upcoming series. Jansen’s impressive performances with both bat and ball have earned him a reputation as a rising star in South African cricket, and his leadership on the field will be crucial in guiding his team to victory.

As South Africa prepares to take on Pakistan in what promises to be an exciting series, all eyes will be on Jansen and his teammates as they look to showcase their discipline, determination, and skill on the field. With the World Test Championship final within reach, Jansen and the rest of the South African team are determined to make their mark and emerge victorious in this crucial series.

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Marco Jansen
WTC final
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Discipline in cricket
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Days After Pak Air Strikes, Soldier Killed In Clashes With Afghan Troops

Peshawar:

A Pakistani paramilitary soldier was killed and seven others wounded in cross-border exchanges of fire with Afghanistan’s forces, a security source said Saturday, while hundreds of Afghans protested against the deadly air strikes that sparked the clashes.

Sporadic fighting, including with heavy weaponry, erupted overnight between border forces on the frontier between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan and Khost province in Afghanistan, officials from both countries said.

The exchanges of fire come after Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities accused Pakistan of killing 46 people, mainly women and children, in air strikes near the border in the southeastern province of Paktika this week.

A Pakistan senior security source said they targeted “terrorist hideouts”, though Islamabad has not officially confirmed carrying out the bombardment.

“One frontier corps (FC) soldier has been reported dead, and seven others have been injured,” a senior security source at the border told AFP, adding clashes took place in at least two locations in Pakistan’s border district of Kurram.

The Afghan defence ministry said on X that “several points” across the border with Pakistan “where the attacks in Afghanistan were organised… were targeted in retaliation”.

A provincial official in Khost told AFP the clashes forced residents to flee border areas, but that there were no reports of casualties among Afghan forces.

In Khost city, the provincial capital, hundreds of Afghans demonstrated against Pakistan on Saturday, calling for accountability for civilian deaths.

Protester Najibullah Zaland said they demanded global economic pressure on Pakistan to prevent such incidents.

“We gathered here today to raise our voices to the world,” he told AFP.

“A path to peace must be put in place, or else the youth will not stay silent.”

The demonstrators praised the Afghan forces, with one protester, Rashidullah Hamdard, saying “our fighters gave them a strong response, and we stand with our forces”.

“We demand the world hold the Pakistani military accountable for these cruel and foolish attacks,” Hamdard said.

– ‘Red line’ –

The strikes were the latest spike in hostilities on the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with border tensions between the two countries escalating since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

Islamabad has accused Kabul’s authorities of harbouring militant fighters, allowing them to strike on Pakistani soil with impunity — allegations the Taliban government denies.

Skirmishes along the frontier escalated after Pakistan’s military conducted deadly air strikes in Afghanistan’s border regions in March, which Taliban authorities claimed killed eight civilians.

The UN assistance mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, called for an investigation into the “credible reports” of civilian deaths, as the UN children’s agency UNICEF said “children are not and must never be a target”.

“UNICEF is deeply saddened by reports that at least 20 children have been killed in an attack near the border in eastern Afghanistan,” regional director Sanjay Wijesekera posted on X.

The strike comes after the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — who share a common ideology with their Afghan counterparts — last week claimed a raid on an army outpost near the border with Afghanistan, which Pakistan said killed 16 soldiers.

“We desire good ties with them (Kabul) but TTP should be stopped from killing our innocent people,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a cabinet address on Friday.

“This is our red line,” he added.

Pakistan has been battling a resurgence of militant violence in its western border regions since the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan.

In 2024 alone, the military has reported 383 soldiers and 925 militants killed in various clashes.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

In the aftermath of Pakistan’s air strikes on militant targets in Afghanistan, tensions between the two neighboring countries have escalated further. Recently, a Pakistani soldier was killed in clashes with Afghan troops along the border.

The skirmish occurred just days after Pakistan launched airstrikes in the border region, targeting militants who were reportedly involved in cross-border attacks. The Pakistani military has accused Afghan forces of providing sanctuary to these militants, leading to increased hostilities between the two nations.

The death of the Pakistani soldier is a tragic reminder of the risks faced by military personnel in these volatile border regions. Both countries have called for restraint and dialogue to de-escalate the situation, but tensions remain high as both sides continue to blame each other for the violence.

The international community has urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through peaceful means and avoid further escalation of the conflict. The recent clash serves as a stark reminder of the fragile peace along the border and the need for continued efforts to promote stability in the region.

Tags:

Pakistan air strikes
Afghan troops clash
Soldier killed
Border skirmish
Indo-Pak conflict
Military confrontation
International tensions
Cross-border violence
South Asia news
Regional security concerns

#Days #Pak #Air #Strikes #Soldier #Killed #Clashes #Afghan #Troops

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SA vs Pak – Pakistan’s best, Naseem Shah, smiles at Test cricket on a rollercoaster day

Like blindly following the recipe book for an exotic dish, it was hard to say what Naseem Shah was cooking up at first this morning. He began groggily, throwing the ball up in search of swing as if this was a Rawalpindi winter day and not a Centurion summer one. He barely broached 135kph, and was much too wide, so any away movement only meant an extra lunge for Mohammad Rizwan. If something was brewing, it was difficult to tell what that might have been.

But it was that kind of morning session, a bowling effort on psychedelics, balls just floating into the ether, hovering there briefly as if the laws of gravity had briefly been suspended, and barely kissing the surface before dancing away into the wind. On a pitch where banging the ball into the surface has been the most proven way to get results, Naseem was rejecting conventional wisdom, no discernible logic behind this iconoclasm. Mohammad Abbas, 13 years his senior, tried following the rulebook to a tee, bless him. But at his pace, with little work going into the ball off his wrist, even the Centurion surface struggled to give him a leg up.

So Shan Masood took him off after a four-over burst. Naseem has built up quite the oeuvre of glorious failure, the universe seemingly conspiring to refuse to give him what he was owed. But he knows, better than most, how frugal with the distribution of joy the world can sometimes be, and he will have known that on this occasion, his empty-handedness was well-deserved.

“You have to learn to adjust in new conditions,” Naseem admitted after the match. “It’s not easy but you have to be disciplined and adjust to different conditions quickly. The pitch here is at a bit of a height and the ground at a depression, so I think you have to adjust as a bowler, and it took me a few overs to do that.”

But there was something Test cricket saw in Naseem, something it liked. In a country that has recently seen its express quick either lose their pace, or their interest in Test cricket, or both, Naseem still has it all.

By his second spell, he was pushing up as high as 145.9kph, he had dragged his lengths back. The rebellious streak was gone, the spell was beginning to come of age, and the recipe book was being faithfully followed. When it still wouldn’t produce a wicket, Naseem dealt with the setbacks with wistful smiles rather than visible agitation. After all, he had seen from the dugout the fickle nature of Test cricket’s generosity; Kagiso Rabada had bowled better than any of the Pakistan bowlers without being rewarded for it.

David Bedingham had ridden his luck against Naseem, surviving a review off the first ball of Naseem’s return spell. Pakistan, to be fair, managed their reviews about as efficiently as many lottery winners do their prizes, but it did signal a shift in intensity from a bowler whose ceiling remains a formidable force to handle. Bedingham soon paid the price for his insouciance when a shade of extra bounce, thanks to improved lengths and higher pace, became too hot to handle, and Naseem had begun to put a spell of proper old-ball Test match fast bowling together either side of lunch. Kyle Verreynne was goaded into a similar shot, and outdone by a similar delivery.

By now, the crowd by Castle Corner had broken out into a chorus of grudging respect; South African spectators cannot help, it would seem, but respect a fast bowler operating at the top of his game. Chants of “Naseem! Naseem” began to go up every time he walked back to the mark, but it was the afternoon, and they were well lubricated by now, so you may be able to put some of the generosity down to that. Apparently, SuperSport Park sold more than 1 million Rand worth of alcohol on day one; the eye test would suggest day two wasn’t far behind.

“You have to learn to adjust in new conditions. It’s not easy but you have to be disciplined and adjust to different conditions quickly.”

Naseem Shah

Naseem knew, though, that this day had been generous to Pakistan; none of the other bowlers had come close to matching his quality, and yet South Africa were suddenly seven down; the woefully out of form Marco Jansen was meat and drink for Naseem. By then Naseem’s second spell was a match-turning one: 3 for 28 in five overs, and the question turned from the size of South Africa’s lead to the possibility they may not get one at all.

On other occasions, in other countries, that might have been work done for a brittle, express pace bowler, but Masood felt Pakistan had no other well to turn to. He tied Aiden Markram up at one end, inducing him into a false shot against Khurram Shahzad at the other end. And still Naseem bowled, him powering on from the media end blending into the background of the day. Drinks came and went, and Naseem was still there, pace slightly down, but banging it into the pitch and asking the same questions.

“Fast bowling is not easy but you have to be ready. I always try to work hard and bowl more in the nets and even in domestic cricket.

“The team needed it, and obviously when the captain asks you, you have to be ready. That is my habit as a fast bowler, to accept the ball when needed. I hadn’t known it would happen, but the captain thought about which bowler would be more impactful, and asked me to bowl. My body’s fine.”

However, the good balls were no longer producing edges, and the occasional loosener that crept into his spell was being put away by Corbin Bosch, exactly the sort of player who Pakistan tend to allow dream career starts. There were five overs between Naseem getting a break, and the captain turning right back to him, but now, Test cricket was playing hard-to-get with him once more.

The field had been spread out for Bosch, the sniff of optimism from the early afternoon had gone. The
crowd, too, began to treat Naseem as the figure of heroic failure he was becoming as the innings dragged on, playfully booing every appeal, and then shouting “review it” once Pakistan’s profligacy had squandered them all.

South Africa had added 88 for the last two wickets, and, despite delivering more overs than any other bowler, faster than any other bowler, better than any other bowler, Naseem’s figures showed he was the most expensive of the three specialist quicks. It is a wonder Naseem plays Test cricket with a smile on his face, but Pakistan are fortunate he does. And perhaps, a pleasant festive afternoon when Test cricket briefly smiles back is all the reward he needs.

Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000

SA vs Pak – Pakistan’s best, Naseem Shah, smiles at Test cricket on a rollercoaster day

In a thrilling Test match between South Africa and Pakistan, it was Pakistan’s young pace sensation Naseem Shah who stole the show with his brilliant display of fast bowling. The 18-year-old prodigy showed why he is considered one of the best talents in world cricket as he rattled the South African batting line-up with his raw pace and skill.

Naseem Shah’s ability to generate extreme pace and movement off the pitch was on full display as he picked up crucial wickets and put the South African batsmen under immense pressure. His fiery spell of fast bowling left the home team reeling and set the stage for a thrilling finish to the Test match.

Despite the ups and downs of the match, Naseem Shah remained calm and composed, smiling at the challenge of Test cricket. His infectious enthusiasm and passion for the game were evident as he celebrated each wicket with a wide grin on his face, showcasing his love for the sport and his joy in competing at the highest level.

As the match went down to the wire, Naseem Shah’s never-say-die attitude and fighting spirit inspired his teammates and showed why he is destined for greatness in the world of cricket. His performance on a rollercoaster day of Test cricket was a testament to his talent, determination, and love for the game.

In the end, Pakistan emerged victorious in a thrilling finish, thanks in large part to the heroics of Naseem Shah. As he walked off the field with a smile on his face, he knew that he had made a mark on the game and left a lasting impression on all those who witnessed his brilliance. Pakistan’s best had truly arrived, and the future looks bright for Naseem Shah in the world of Test cricket.

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SA vs Pak, Pakistan cricket team, Naseem Shah, Test cricket, rollercoaster day, Pakistan cricket news, cricket updates, Pakistan vs South Africa, cricket match analysis

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