Pakistan vs South Africa first test 2024

 

  

Pakistan narrowly lost to South Africa by two wickets in the first test at Centurion. Pakistan should have won the first test given the chances they had as in the first innings they had South Africa at 213 for 8 from then onwards they let South Africa to a total of 301 runs hence conceding a healthy lead of 90 runs. This lead was the main reason why Pakistan lost the test match. 

Then in the second innings after getting South Africa to be at 99 for 8 Pakistan let South Africa reach that target of 148 runs. Mohammad Abbas made an excellent return to test cricket and we were really missing his bowling all this time. The batting let Pakistani cricket team down in this test match and no batsmen except Saud Shakeel, Babar Azam and Kamran Ghulam impressed me.

In the end what i would like to say is that Pakistan were too one dimensional in this test match in their bowling. If they had included Noman Ali in their team who was a spinner Pakistan might have won this test match.

Pakistan's best coach ever

 

I think Intikhab Alam was Pakistan's best coach ever and he was also the most successful coach Pakistan has ever had. Under Intikhab Alam's coaching we won the 1992 World Cup and then later on also we won the 2009 Twenty20 world cup which was held in England. 1992 World cup upto this date remains Pakistan's only 50 over World Cup title. The 2009 World Cup twenty20 remains Pakistan's only Twenty20 world cup title.

In the 1992 World cup Pakistan were almost knocked out of the tournament after losing unfairly to a rain affected match against South Africa. But then onwards Intikhab Alam devised a master strategy plan alongwith Captain Imran Khan and vice captain Javed Miandad which led to Pakistan winning four consecutive matches in a row including the semi final and final of the tournament.

Similarly in 2009 Twenty20 world cup in England , Pakistan were down and out after losing to Sri lanka  in the super eights stage of the tournament. From then onwards an Intikhab Alam inspired Pakistan won against New Zealand and Ireland in the super eights stage then they defeated South Africa in the Semi finals and finally won the title against Srilanka in the Final of the tournament.

In the end what i would like to say is that had Intikhab Alam not written that terrible report on Pakistani players in their disastrous tour of Australia in 2010 he would have coached Pakistan to more glory.

Pakistan vs South Africa 3rd ODI 2024

 

Pakistan just did the unthinkable they defeated South Africa 3-0 and they just whitewashed South Africa which no cricket team has done in South African soil. Pakistan is finally playing like a team rather than relying on individual players and things look bright for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan and UAE.

Saim Ayub looks to be in the peak form of his life and I sincerely hope that he continues to play for Pakistan like this forever. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah are back in form. Pakistan will dearly miss Shaheen Afridi in the test matches with the kind of form he showed in the ODI series against South Africa. 

In the end what i would like to say is that Pakistan has a fifty fifty percent chance of winning against South Africa provided that their batting scores heavily in the upcoming test matches against South Africa.

Pakistan vs South Africa 2nd ODI 2024

Pakistan won the ODI series against South Africa in South Africa which is a proud moment in cricket for the whole Pakistan nation. This was a team effort as Pakistan outshone, out conquered and outclassed South Africa in all three departments of the game to win the ODI series. The bowling line up selected for this second ODI by the South Africans was weak and inexperienced. Pakistan batsmen took full advantage of this weak bowling line up missing Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje in their bowling line up to put up an imposing total of 329 on board which the South Africans found very difficult to chase.

Muhammad Rizwan and Babar Azam again formed a huge and well refined partnership of 100 plus runs which laid the foundation of a huge total of 329 runs. Kamran Ghulam played the best knock of his short career at an impressive strike rate which led to Pakistan's great total. Despite Klaasen's whirlwind knock of 97 runs Pakistan managed to beat South Africa by 81 runs due to Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah's superb bowling.

In the end what I would like to say is that Pakistan would put an icing on the cake if they are able to whitewash South Africa 3-0 in this ODI series.  

Pakistan vs South Africa 1st ODI 2024

 

Pakistan finally register their first win of the tour against South Africa. Pakistan won the first ODI against South Africa by 3 wickets. This win is a fantastic achievement as South Africa is a very tough team to beat at home. Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha impressed with both bat and ball in this match and this was a good all round performance from both of them.

Saim Ayub is not only scoring runs consistently and heavily but he is scoring these runs quickly and with a good strike rate. All our spinners Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha and Saim Ayub are bowling superbly. Shaheen Afridi is bowling well amongst the pacers as well. The only worry for me in this current Pakistani team is that only Saim Ayub is performing consistently with the bat and rest of the batsmen in the Pakistani team are out of form.

In the end what I would like to say is that after this performance at Paarl I am quite confident Pakistan will do well in the rest of the tour of South Africa.

Pakistan vs South Africa second twenty20 2024

 

Pakistan were thrashed by South Africa by 7 wickets in the second twenty20 international played at Centurion. Pakistan despite amassing a high total of 206 lost this match to a second string South African team. In both the twenty20 internationals our bowling was too expensive which cost Pakistan both the matches.

Saim Ayub played a wonderful and selfless innings in this 2nd Twenty20 international playing an almost match winning knock of 98 runs. Saim Ayub will hopefully perform like Saeed Anwar did with distinction for Pakistan. 

In the end what I would like to say is that the way our bowling has being hit to all parts of the ground by South African batsmen Pakistan would do well if they can prevent a whitewash against South Africa in this Twenty20 series.

Pakistan vs South Africa first twenty20 2024

 

Pakistan had a great chance of winning against South Africa in the first twenty20 international played in Durban when they had South Africa at 141 for 8. From 141 for 8 Pakistan should have bowled South Africa for a low total instead they let South Africa off the hook and bowled them out for 185 for 9 which proved to be a steep chase for the Pakistanis to chase.

Also Sufiyan Muqeem proved to be very expensive especially his final over of the innings against South Africa which cost Pakistan the match. I dont know what was Muhammad Rizwan's logic to bowl Sufiyan Muqeem an inexperienced spinner the last over of the innings and he should have saved Shaheen Afridi for the last over and completed Muqeem's quota of overs a lot earlier.

In the end what I would like to say is that since South Africa is playing its second string side in this series Pakistan should bounce back in this twenty20 series.

Pakistan tour of South Africa.

 

Pakistan's tour of South Africa will be a stern test for both Pakistan's batsmen and bowlers. Pakistani batsmen in particular will be tested by the fast and bouncy pitches of South Africa. A lot depends on Babar Azam's batting if his batting clicks then Pakistan might be able to spring a surprise win or two. The bowlers selected in the test side are all medium pacers with the exception of Naseem Shah in the test matches.

Mir Hamza, Khurram Shehzad and Aamir Jamal are all bowlers with no pace and they will prove to be ineffective on the South African pitches in the test matches. I dont know why they didnt select the inform Sajid Khan on this tour. South africa is a good all round team and will be very tough to beat in all three formats of the game.

In the end what I would like to say is that if Pakistani players adjust to the conditions in South Africa quickly then they have a good chance of winning against South Africa.

Pakistan's series victory over Zimbabwe in the Twenty20 series 2024

 

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe in the twenty20 series 2-1 which is a tremendous achievement. I am saying this because Zimbabwe beat World Twenty20 champions India in one Twenty20 match this year in the  twenty20 series played in Zimbabwe which means Zimbabwe is not a weak side in Twenty20 cricket. 

Pakistan found a lot of talented players in this twenty20 series like Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed. Sufiyan Muqeem in particular was the find of the tour as he was almost unplayable throughout the Twenty20 series. Sufiyan Muqeem is a great talent and I think we should play him in all formats of the game.

In the end what I would like to say is that Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe proved to be a successful tour as we won both the Twenty20 Series and ODI series with a young and inexperienced team.