The South Africa cricket team toured Pakistan in January 2021 to play two Test matches and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against the Pakistan cricket team.[1][2] The Test series formed part of the inaugural 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship.[3] It was the first time in fourteen years that South Africa toured Pakistan.[4]
In December 2020, Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed that they would be touring Pakistan.[5] The Test matches took place in Karachi and Rawalpindi, with the T20I matches being played in Lahore.[6]
Pakistan won the first Test by seven wickets, to take a 1–0 lead in the series.[7] Pakistan won the second Test by 95 runs, taking the series 2–0, and recording their first series win against South Africa since October 2003.[8] The T20I series was level after the first two matches,[9] with Pakistan winning the third match by four wickets, winning the series 2–1.[10] With winning the third match, Pakistan became the first men's team to win 100 T20I matches.[11]
Background
After successfully arranging a limited-overs series against Sri Lanka in Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Ehsan Mani announced that they would no longer play their future home matches at a neutral venue.[12][13] For the tour to go ahead, Cricket South Africa needed to grant permission for their players to travel as a group, due to the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.[14] In August 2020, the South Africa women's team were denied a request to travel to England.[15]
On 25 September 2020, the PCB confirmed that the South African team would be touring Pakistan, as per the schedule.[16] A month later, Cricket South Africa sent a security delegation to Pakistan to perform a feasibility assessment for the tour.[17] South Africa last toured Pakistan in October 2007.[18] On 16 January 2021, the PCB named the match officials for the tour. Aleem Dar, who has been the on-field umpire for 132 Tests prior to the tour, stood in his first Test match at home.[19] Ahsan Raza also made his debut as an on-field umpire in Test cricket.[20]
Squads
In December 2020, Pakistan's Shadab Khan suffered an injury ahead of the Test series against New Zealand.[25] On 26 December 2020, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that he had been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand,[26] and the Test matches at home against South Africa.[27] Before South Africa departed for the tour, Ottniel Baartman was ruled out of their Test squad, with Marco Jansen named as his replacement.[28] On 24 January 2021, the PCB confirmed that seventeen players would be available for selection for the first Test match,[29] with Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam and Agha Salman staying with the squad for training sessions.[30] The PCB also retained the same seventeen players for selection for the second Test match.[31]
Test series
1st Test
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- South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
- Nauman Ali and Imran Butt (Pak) both made their Test debuts.
- Babar Azam captained Pakistan for the first time in Tests.[32]
- Quinton de Kock (SA) played in his 50th Test.[33]
- Ahsan Raza (Pak) stood in his first Test as an on-field umpire.[34]
- Kagiso Rabada (SA) took his 200th wicket in Tests.[35]
- Nauman Ali became the 12th bowler for Pakistan to take a five-wicket haul on debut in Tests.[36]
- World Test Championship points: Pakistan 60, South Africa 0.
2nd Test
4–8 February 2021
Scorecard |
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- Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- No play was possible after tea on day 1 due to rain.
- Mohammad Rizwan (Pak) scored his first century in Tests.[37]
- George Linde (SA) took his first five-wicket haul in Tests.[38]
- World Test Championship points: Pakistan 60, South Africa 0.
T20I series
1st T20I
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- South Africa won the toss and elected to field.
- Jacques Snyman (SA) made his T20I debut.
- Heinrich Klaasen captained South Africa for the first time in T20Is.[39]
- Mohammad Rizwan (Pak) scored his first century in T20Is.[40]
2nd T20I
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- South Africa won the toss and elected to field.
- Glenton Stuurman (SA) made his T20I debut.
- Dwaine Pretorius (SA) took his first five-wicket haul in T20Is.[41]
- Dwaine Pretorius also took the best figures by a bowler for South Africa in T20Is.[42]
3rd T20I
Notes
- ^ While five days of play were scheduled for each Test, the first Test reached a result in four days.
References
- ^ "Men's Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Men's Future Tour Programme 2018-2023 released". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Schedule for inaugural World Test Championship announced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ "South Africa confirms first tour to Pakistan in 14 years". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ^ "South Africa confirms first tour to Pakistan in 14 years". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ^ "South Africa confirm first tour of Pakistan in 14 years". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ^ "Pakistan v South Africa: Debutant Nauman Ali takes 5-35 as hosts win first Test". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "Hasan Ali ten-for gives Pakistan first series win over South Africa since 2003". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "South Africa beat Pakistan to take series to a decider". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan win third T20 against S. Africa by 4 wickets, emerge victorious in series". Dawn. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan overpower South Africa to win series and bring up century of T20I wins". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan will not play any home series on neutral venues: PCB Chief Mani". Times of India. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Cricket returns to Pakistan as Covid-19 situation improves". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "South Africa opens borders but international sport remains locked down". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "South Africa Women not to tour England in September 2020". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "South Africa to tour Pakistan in January: PCB CEO". Samaa TV. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Bumper 2020/2021 international season ahead for the Proteas men". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "South Africa hope to tour Pakistan for the first time in 12 years". The National. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza to umpire South Africa Tests". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ "Pak vs SA: Aleem Dar to officiate on home soil for the first time". Geo TV. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ "Shan Masood, Mohammad Abbas, Haris Sohail dropped from Pakistan Test squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "South Africa name uncapped Daryn Dupavillon and Ottneil Baarman in Pakistan Test squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Mohammad Wasim announces squad for T20I series against South Africa". Geo Super. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ "Klaasen to captain Proteas T20 squad to Pakistan". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Shadab Khan out of first New Zealand Test with thigh injury". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Shadab Khan advised six-week rest". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ^ "Shadab Khan to miss Tests against New Zealand, South Africa". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ^ "Jansen replaces Baartman as South Africa fly to Pakistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan confirms 17-player squad for first Test". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan pick six uncapped players in squad for Karachi Test". CricBuzz. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan retain same 17 for the second Test". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan hope for new dawn as Babar Azam the Test captain finally makes his entry". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "'There's possibly another 100 Test matches for him' - Boucher on de Kock's special 50". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Aleem Dar, Ahsan Raza to umpire in South Africa Tests". Daily Times. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Stats - Kagiso Rabada the third fastest to 200 Test wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Pak vs SA: Pakistan win first Test against South Africa". Geo TV. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "Watch: When Mohammad Rizwan scored his first Test century". The International News. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Linde, Markram and vd Dussen give Proteas hope in Rawalpindi". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Favourites Pakistan gear up for T20 season against fresh-faced South Africa". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Watch: Mohammad Rizwan becomes second Pakistani to score T20I century". Geo Super. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Pretorius's best too good for Pakistan". SuperSport. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Dwaine Pretorius' record five-for helps South Africa draw level". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
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