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Pakistan beat South Africa to begin World Test Championship on high | The Express Tribune
Shaheen Afridi and Noman Ali starred with the ball as the Men in Green secured a dominating win in Lahore
Pakistan beat defending champions South Africa by 93 runs in the opening Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. PHOTO: PCB
Pakistan began their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 campaign on a winning note, defeating defending champions South Africa by 93 runs in the opening Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 277, South Africa were bowled out for 183 in 60.5 overs, as spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, along with pacer Shaheen Afridi, led Pakistan to victory.
The visitors’ chase got off to a shaky start when captain Aiden Markram fell early to Noman for just three runs. The left-arm spinner struck again soon after, removing Wiaan Mulder for a duck to leave South Africa reeling at 18-2.
Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi offered brief resistance with a 33-run partnership before Shaheen Afridi made an immediate impact on the fourth day, dismissing de Zorzi for 16. Noman continued his fine form by removing Tristan Stubbs for 2, tightening Pakistan’s hold on the match.
Dewald Brevis provided some fight with a brisk 54 off 54 balls, sharing a 73-run stand with Rickelton (45). However, once Noman dismissed Brevis at 128-5, the remaining batting lineup struggled to cope with Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack. Sajid Khan picked up key wickets, removing Rickelton and Senuran Muthusamy (6) after lunch to leave the Proteas in deep trouble.
Kyle Verreynne (19) and Simon Harmer tried to hold on, but Shaheen’s fiery second spell wrapped up the innings in style. The left-armer finished with figures of 4-33, while Noman claimed 4-79 to seal a memorable win for the hosts.
Earlier, Pakistan’s first-innings total of 378 laid the foundation for the victory. Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha both missed centuries by narrow margins, scoring 93 each, while Shan Masood (76) and Mohammad Rizwan (75) added valuable runs.
For South Africa, Senuran Muthusamy was the standout bowler with 6-117 in 32 overs, supported by Prenelan Subrayen, Simon Harmer, and Kagiso Rabada.
The visitors replied with 269 in their first innings, thanks to Tony de Zorzi’s fighting 104 and Ryan Rickelton’s 71. Noman once again shone with the ball, taking 6-112, while Sajid Khan bagged three wickets.
With a 109-run lead, Pakistan faced some pressure in their second innings, managing just 167 in 46.1 overs. Babar Azam (42), Abdullah Shafique (41), and Saud Shakeel (38) provided key contributions before the Proteas’ spinners, led by Muthusamy (5-57) and Harmer (4-51), wrapped up the innings.
Despite their struggles with the bat in the second innings, Pakistan’s bowlers ensured the team maintained control, sealing a convincing victory and taking a 1–0 lead in the two-match Test series.
Following the win, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi congratulated the national team on their performance.
“Heartiest congratulations to Pakistan Test Team on a remarkable victory against the World Test Champions, South Africa. 🇵🇰👏
This win reflects true teamwork and excellence across all departments. Kudos to the captain, players, coaching staff and management for their outstanding performance.
Wishing the team continued success and consistency in the next Test! 🏏” Naqvi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Heartiest congratulations to Pakistan Test Team on a remarkable victory against the World Test Champions, South Africa. 🇵🇰👏
This win reflects true teamwork and excellence across all departments. Kudos to the captain, players, coaching staff and management for their outstanding…
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) October 15, 2025
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FIFA has acknowledged that the United States government has the final say on determining the safety of World Cup host cities.
The news comes after U.S. president Donald Trump said FIFA president Gianni Infantino would “very easily” move 2026 World Cup matches away from designated host cities if Trump asked him to.
Trump also indicated he would seek to move the 2028 Olympic Games away from Los Angeles if he felt the city was not safe.
The U.S. president has previously spoken about moving World Cup matches away from what he deemed “dangerous” cities, previously naming Seattle and San Francisco.
“Safety and security are the top priorities at all FIFA events worldwide,” a FIFA spokesperson said. “Safety and security are obviously the governments’ responsibility and they decide what is in the best interest for public safety.
“We hope every one of our 16 host cities will be ready to successfully host and fulfil all necessary requirements.”
On Thursday, Trump said there had been “street takeovers” in Boston and claimed FIFA would move matches for next summer’s finals if he asked.
“If somebody is doing a bad job, and if I feel there are unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who’s phenomenal, and I would say, ‘Let’s move it to another location’,” he told reporters in the U.S. on Tuesday.
“And he would do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it very easily.
“He’d do it and this is the right time to do it.
“I could say the same thing for the Olympics. If I thought L.A. was not going to be prepared properly, I would move it to another location.
“If I had to on that one, I’d probably have to get a different kind of a permission, but we would do that.”
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FIFA president Infantino has developed a close relationship with Trump and most recently attended a Middle East peace summit alongside him in Egypt earlier this week.
FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani said “FIFA makes those decisions” when asked earlier this month about Trump’s original threat to move matches.
Montagliani told Leaders Week London: “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans.”
FIFA is understood to believe there are no issues with any of the 16 host cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
A spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in response to Trump’s comments: “The Olympic Games LA28 have the full support of the President of the United States, the Governor of California and the Mayor of Los Angeles.
“All of them are being extremely helpful in the preparations for these Games. This is mirrored on the operational level of the administration. There are three years to go and we are confident that LA28 will be great Olympic Games.”
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The NBA has suspended an employee without pay for two weeks after he appeared to celebrate the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
In an email to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the association confirmed that the employee had “violated multiple NBA policies.”
According to OutKick, which first reported the incident, the former employee called Kirk a “terrible person” and a “s—hole” in an Instagram story.
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Charlie Kirk speaks on-stage during the Turning Point USA Young Women’s Leadership Summit at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center on June 14, 2025, in Grapevine, Texas. (Sam Hodde for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
In a post the employee shared that asked what Kirk’s “legacy” was, the employee wrote that he did not have one.
“Did absolutely nothing healthy for the world except spew dangerous rhetoric… There is no legacy,” the post read.
“Oh I also forgot to include ‘thoughts and prayers.’ LMAO,” another post read.
The NBA told OutKick on Oct. 6 that it was “looking into” the matter but did not provide another update until announcing the suspension Wednesday, after multiple requests for comment from Fox News Digital and OutKick.
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA speaks during the Turning Point Action conference, July 15, 2023, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Lynne Sladky/AP Photo)
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It is unclear when the suspension was handed down or what policies were broken. The NBA has not responded to an email from Fox News Digital about those details.
Kirk, who would have turned 32 on Tuesday, was assassinated at Utah Valley University while debating college students. He was shot while being asked about gun violence.
President Donald Trump awarded Kirk with a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom Tuesday in a ceremony that Kirk’s widow, Erika, attended.
U.S. President Donald Trump posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to late conservative activist Charlie Kirk as he presents the Medal to his wife Erika Kirk (L) during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House on Oct. 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Kirk’s “Turning Point USA” announced earlier this month that it would host its own halftime show for the Super Bowl in San Francisco, shortly after the NFL announced that Bad Bunny would perform at Levi’s Stadium.
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