Pakistan Cricketers Celebrate Birthdays During Training Session

LAHORE: Pakistani cricketers Rohail Nazir and Kamran Ghulam celebrated their birthdays on Friday during a training session for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa.

A video shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on social media featured Rohail and Kamran cutting a cake as teammates cheered and wished them well.

Team manager Naveed Akram Cheema presented the pair with flower bouquets on behalf of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

The first Test match is scheduled to take place at Gaddafi Stadium from October 12 to 16, followed by the second at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from October 20 to 24.

This series marks South Africa’s first Test appearance in Pakistan since January 2021, when they were defeated 2-0 by the home side.

Following the Test matches, Pakistan and South Africa will participate in a three-match T20I series from October 28 to November 1, with the initial match in Rawalpindi and the subsequent two at Gaddafi Stadium.

The tour will conclude with a three-match ODI series from November 4 to 8 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.

Historically, Pakistan and South Africa have competed in 30 Test matches, with Pakistan securing victory in six, South Africa in 17, and seven matches ending in a draw.

Squads
Pakistan:

Shan Masood (C), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (WK), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

South Africa:

Aiden Markram (c), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj (second Test only), Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen and Kyle Verreynne.