Pakistan have shown improvement in their performances across formats in international cricket. After losing to Bangladesh, the decision-makers made some hard decisions. The first Test defeat against England saw the selectors leaving out Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah out of the team.
The Men in Green went on to win the remaining two games, also their first series, after a long time. Pakistan then defeated Australia in one-day series in Australia and now the sub-continent nation has gone past the challenge of South Africa.
With two wins from as many games, the visiting team has clinched the three-match series. Mohammad Rizwan’s team thumped the home team by three wickets in the series opener and then registered an 81-run victory in the second game. Heinrich Klaasen scored 97 runs, but the team was bowled out for 248 while chasing 330. Earlier, Babar Azam (73), Mohammad Rizwan (80), and Kamran Ghulam (63) took Pakistan to a big total.
Pakistan entered the record books with the win in the second game as they became the first team in the 21st century to win three ODI series against South Africa in South Africa. Their previous two victories were in 2021 and 2013. Pakistan achieved this milestone in just seven attempts. Australia has also won three ODI series in South Africa but in 10 attempts.
Pakistan have peaked at the right time, and they will enter the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 confidently. The event will be conducted in a hybrid model, with the Men in Blue playing their matches in Dubai. Pakistan is the host nation, and the remaining teams will compete in the sub-continent nation. Pakistan are also the defending champions, having lifted the trophy in 2017.
“Everyone performed for the team. I had a good partnership with Babar and we went slow to lay the foundation for the other batters. We were able to reach 329 because of Kamran Ghulam. The bowlers were also spot on,” Mohammad Rizwan said.
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