Sports
Pakistan decide to bowl first against South Africa in opening ODI
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first in the first one-day international (ODI) of a three-match series against South Africa at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Tuesday.
Pakistan skipper Shaheen Afridi said the decision was influenced by the freshness of the wicket and the long interval since Faisalabad last hosted an ODI.
South Africa captain Matthew Breetzke said that the surface appeared dry, predicting dew would impact play later in the evening.
Playing XIs:
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi (c), Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke (c), Sinethemba Qeshile, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, and Lizaad Williams.
The three-match ODI series is a part of the Proteas tour of Pakistan, featuring an all-format series. The two-match Test series was shared by both teams 1-1, while Pakistan won the three-match T20I series 2-1.
With the first ODI, international cricket has returned to Faisalabad after 17 years. The remaining matches will be played on 6 and 8 November at the same venue.
The last international match at the Iqbal Stadium was played on April 11, 2008, when Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in an ODI by seven wickets. The historic venue has hosted 16 ODIs to date, including four World Cup matches – one in 1987 and three in 1996.
Pakistan have featured in 12 ODIs at this ground, winning nine and losing three. South Africa, on the other hand, have played five ODIs here, winning two and losing three. Across all ODIs between the two sides, Pakistan and South Africa have met 87 times, with Pakistan winning 34 and South Africa emerging victorious in 52 encounters. In Pakistan, both teams have won eight matches each out of 16.
In Faisalabad, Pakistan and South Africa have contested in three ODIs. Pakistan have won on two occasions (in 1994 and 2007), while South Africa secured victory in one (2003).
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UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor almost had a perfect night in his squad’s dominant 57-20 win over Florida International at the First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium Friday.
Why wasn’t it a perfect night for Traylor? He couldn’t avoid getting drenched.
Traylor, 57, knew what was coming as the clock was winding down in the fourth quarter. He was about to get doused with water by his players.
So, the head coach took off toward the end of the sideline, hoping to escape the oncoming shower.
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UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor tries to run away from UTSA Roadrunners wide receiver Jamel Hardy (13) to avoid a Gatorade bath after the ServPro First Responder Bowl between the FIU Panthers and the UTSA Roadrunners at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas, Dec. 26, 2025. (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The attempt to escape was futile as Traylor made it to the end of the sideline, turned around and saw wide receiver Jamel Hardy Jr. coming after him. Traylor was held up by a reporter and then got drenched.
In a last-ditch effort to avoid the water, Traylor fell down onto a ServPro mat near the sideline, which ended up being costly. Traylor was mobbed by his players and found himself at the bottom of an impromptu dogpile, creating a hilarious scene.
ESPN STAR TAKES SWIPE AT JOHNNY MANZIEL FOR MISSING GUEST SPOT
UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor gets a Gatorade bath from UTSA Roadrunners wide receiver Jamel Hardy (13) after the ServPro First Responder Bowl between the FIU Panthers and the UTSA Roadrunners at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas, Dec. 26, 2025. (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
While at the bottom of the dogpile, Traylor got another bucket of water dumped on him by defensive lineman Kaian Roberts-Day.
Aside from unsuccessfully evading his players in celebration, Traylor had a good night. UTSA won handily in its sixth consecutive bowl appearance.
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FIU went up 14-0 early, but UTSA stormed back to tie at 14 before the first quarter ended, and it never looked back.
UTSA had a 310-93 advantage in total yards in the first half. Quarterback Owen McCown threw three touchdown passes, and running back Will Henderson III scored three times.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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