KEY POINTS
- Afridi praised Babar Azam coming back in form following T20I series win.
- South Africa captain pledged not to repeat T20 mistakes in ODI series
- South Africa is missing key players, with Matthew Breetzke stepping in as ODI skipper.
FAISALABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan’s newly appointed ODI captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, is gearing up for his first series at the helm in the 50-over format, starting Tuesday against South Africa at the Iqbal Stadium.
“It is an honour for me to lead the country,” said the 25-year-old in a pre-match press conference. “Even as a player, wearing the national colours is always a matter of pride, but now, as captain, there is an added sense of responsibility.”
Shaheen’s first stint as T20I captain had ended last year after a 4-1 series defeat in New Zealand.
Ahead of the series in a joint press conference with South African captain Matthew Breetzke, Shaheen expressed full confidence in former captain Babar Azam, who starred in Pakistan’s T20I series-deciding victory over South Africa last week.
“Babar has been performing for Pakistan for the past four, five years and is the top T20 run scorer. A few poor performances don’t define his talent,” Shaheen said, adding that senior players often guide the team to victory.
Shaheen acknowledged the challenge of facing a strong South African side but remained confident in Pakistan’s form after their T20I triumph.
“Our job is to serve Pakistan cricket and fulfil whatever role we’re given. My focus is on improving our one-day cricket and leading the team from the front,” he said.
The ODI series comes after Pakistan’s 1-1 draw in the two-match Test series and their 2-1 win in the T20Is.
South Africa captain Matthew Breetzke’s press conference | Pakistan vs South Africa ODI Series 2025#PAKvSA | #GreenPeYaqeen pic.twitter.com/crTAYM7dIE
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) November 3, 2025
Pakistan will field a full-strength squad featuring Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Rizwan.
South Africa, however, will be missing several key players, including regular skipper Temba Bavuma and pace duo Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.
The ODI captaincy is in the hands of newcomer Matthew Breetzke, who made headlines earlier this year with a record 150 on ODI debut against New Zealand in Lahore.
Pakistan captain @iShaheenAfridi‘s pre-series press conference in Faisalabad | Pakistan vs South Africa ODI series 2025#PAKvSA | #GreenPeYaqeen pic.twitter.com/jUSWuzaOZg
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) November 3, 2025
Despite the absence of their core squad, Breetzke remains optimistic. “We are missing the core group of ODI players, but there is an opportunity for the younger guys to step up and take the challenge,” he said.
Quinton de Kock will return to ODI cricket after reversing his 2023 retirement for the tour.
Breetzke lauded Pakistan’s hospitality, expressing excitement about playing in Faisalabad.
“It will be great to play here. We’ll make sure not to repeat the mistakes from the T20 series,” Breetzke said, adding that Babar Azam is a world-class batsman and the team will aim to dismiss him early to quiet the crowd.
The three-match ODI series in Faisalabad is part of South Africa’s all-format tour of Pakistan, which has already featured competitive cricket in Tests and T20Is, setting the stage for a gripping one-day contest.
