Faisalabad has marked a historic moment in Pakistani cricket with the return of international cricket after 17 years. The Iqbal Cricket Stadium hosted the first ODI of the three-match series between Pakistan and South Africa on Tuesday. This event celebrated the city’s return to the international cricket stage, a long-awaited milestone for local fans.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed his joy on social media, calling it a proud moment. Naqvi shared his excitement, noting that Faisalabad had been without international cricket since April 11, 2008, when Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in an ODI. He praised the city’s passionate cricket fans, declaring Faisalabad as Pakistan’s “own Manchester.”
The opening ODI was the first of three matches scheduled at the Iqbal Stadium. The series continues with the next two ODIs set for November 6 and 8. Naqvi also expressed hope that Faisalabad would continue to host international matches in the future, further enriching Pakistan’s cricket legacy.
The match comes after an exciting series between the two teams. Pakistan and South Africa had previously drawn their Test series 1-1, while Pakistan won the T20I series 2-1. South Africa, despite their strong history in ODIs, now faces the challenge of competing in the 50-over format.
Historically, Pakistan and South Africa have played 87 ODIs, with South Africa leading the head-to-head record. South Africa has won 52 matches, while Pakistan has won 34, with one match ending in no result. The ongoing ODI series is expected to add another exciting chapter to this rivalry.
