Srinagar — Three Pakistani players Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam have been penalised following their Tri-Nation Series clash against South Africa.

ICC has imposed fines on the three players for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during their tri-nation series match against South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday.

Pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was fined 25 per cent of his match fee for breaching Article 2.12 of the Code, which pertains to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.”

The incident occurred in the 28th over of South Africa’s innings when Shaheen deliberately obstructed batter Matthew Breetzke as he ran a single, resulting in physical contact and a heated exchange between the two players.

In another incident, Saud Shakeel and substitute fielder Kamran Ghulam were fined 10 percent of their match fees for celebrating too closely to batter Temba Bavuma following his run-out in the 29th over.

Both players were found guilty of breaching Article 2.5 of the Code, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”

In addition to the financial penalties, all three players have received one demerit point each on their disciplinary records. None of the players had any prior offences in the last 24 months.

All players have accepted the sanctions imposed and there will be no formal hearings regarding the incidents.

Pakistan secured a historic win against South Africa, to reach the finals of the Tri-Nation series where they’ll take on New Zealand on 14 February.

All the key numbers from Pakistan’s record ODI chase against South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday, February 12.

353 is the highest target chased down by Pakistan in an ODI, bettering 349 against Australia in Lahore in 2022. Overall, this was Pakistan’s 12th successful run-chase of 300 or more, six of them coming since 2022.

It also happened to be the highest successful run-chase against South Africa, surpassing 327 by Australia at Gqeberha in 2002.

Highest successful ODI chases for Pakistan

Successful 300-plus ODI chases against South Africa

707 is now the highest match-aggregate in an ODI between Pakistan and South Africa, well clear of 665 at the Wanderers in 2021.

260 runs added for the fourth-wicket by Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha made it the third-highest partnership for any wicket for Pakistan in ODIs, and their highest in a run-chase, bettering 228* between Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2011.

It also happened to be the best ever stand for third-wicket or below in an ODI run-chase.

Highest ODI partnerships for Pakistan

Highest partnerships for third wicket or below in ODI run-chases

Barring the 242-run stand between Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi in the above list, all others came in a winning cause.

2 – This was the first instance of two Pakistan batters registering hundreds in the same ODI innings while batting from No.4 or below. Overall, it was just the fifth instance of two batters scoring hundreds from No.4 or below in a successful ODI run-chase.

Multiple tons from No.4 or below in successful ODI chases

122* by Mohammad Rizwan is the highest individual score by a Pakistan captain in a successful ODI run-chase. Babar Azam’s 125 in a tied finish against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi in 2020 is the only higher score by a Pakistan captain while batting second in the format (Zimbabwe won the Super Over).

It is also the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper captain in an ODI chase, bettering Brendan Taylor’s 121 against Ireland at Hobart during the 2015 WC (in a losing cause), followed by Adam Gilchrist’s match-winning 116 against Sri Lanka at the WACA, Perth in 2006.

Moreover, it is now the third-highest score by a designated Pakistan wicketkeeper in the format, behind Rizwan’s own 131* against Sri Lanka during the 2023 World Cup and Kamran Akmal’s 124 against West Indies in Brisbane in 2005.

Match-winning hundreds by Pakistan captains in ODI run-chases

134 by Salman Ali Agha is the highest individual score for Pakistan from No.5 or lower in ODIs, surpassing Basit Ali’s 127* against the West Indies in Sharjah in 1993. Only three other Pakistan batters have scored hundreds from No.5 or below while batting second in ODIs: Abdul Razzaq (109*) against South Africa in Abu Dhabi in 2010, Shahid Afridi (109) against Sri Lanka at Dambulla at the 2010 Asia Cup and Shoaib Maik (101*) against the West Indies at Providence, Guyana in 2017.

Agha’s 134 is also the fourth best score in a successful ODI run-chase from No.5 or lower in a list headed by Glenn Maxwell’s historic 201* against Afghanistan at the 2023 World Cup, followed by Tom Latham’s 145* against India at Auckland and Sikandar Raza’s 135* against Bangladesh in Harare (both in 2022).

233 runs aggregated by Matthew Breetzke in his first two ODI innings, a record in the format, overtaking Desmond Haynes’ 195. Haynes had scored 148 off 136 on his ODI debut against Australia in Antigua in 1978 and followed it up with 47 against India in the 1979 World Cup opener at Edgbaston. Breetzke, after his record 150 on ODI debut earlier this week, scored 83 off 84 on Wednesday.

3 – For the first time ever in the history of ODI cricket, three batters finished with a score in the Eighties in a team innings. Heinrich Klaasen (87 off 56), Matthew Breetzke (83 off 84) and Temba Bavuma (82 off 96) were the top three scorers in South Africa’s first innings effort of 352/5.

© Cricbuzz

England’s miserable tour came to an end following another lopsided win for the home side as India hammered the visitors in the final ODI in Ahmedabad. India’s massive win was headlined by Shubman Gill’s seventh ton which came in his 50th ODI appearance for India and there were also contributions from the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. In reply, England’s chase fizzled out around the halfway mark as they lost by a massive margin of 142 runs.

With a daunting target of 357 ahead of them, England came out all guns blazing on expected lines. Ben Duckett in particular was severe against India’s new ball bowlers as he hit four boundaries against Harshit Rana before finding the fence on four successive occasions against Arshdeep Singh. As a result of this onslaught, England raced to 60/0 in just six overs, setting themselves up for the tall chase. However, things quickly turned when Duckett completely mistimed a knuckleball from Arshdeep to get caught for 34.

Tom Banton, getting an opportunity at No.3, started off with a switch-hit six against Washington Sundar but at the other end, another slower delivery from Arshdeep consumed Phil Salt. While England had 84 runs in the first nine overs, the two wickets did cause a dent. Joe Root and Banton consolidated for a brief period with the latter employing the switch hit once again for another six, this time off Axar Patel. However, Kuldeep Yadav managed to send Banton back to the pavilion with a googly and Root was castled by Axar soon after.

If those two wickets weren’t enough, Rana came back to get the big wicket of Jos Buttler, who chopped one onto his stumps to pretty much signal the end. It was a case of rinse and repeat as Harry Brook endured the same fate against the same bowler in his next over. Expensive on the night, Washington managed to open his account by getting Liam Livingstone stumped and Hardik Pandya added a couple of lower order wickets which ensured at least one scalp for every single Indian bowler. If not for a few lusty blows from Gus Atkinson, England wouldn’t have breached even 200.

Earlier in the day, India showcased their batting might to breach 350 after being sent into bat. Rohit Sharma couldn’t replicate his Cuttack heroics and was sent packing very early in the innings but Gill managed to get off to a good start yet again. Virat Kohli, under a bit of pressure, found some much-needed rhythm as well. India made 52/1 in the first powerplay and showed no signs of slowing down with the field starting to spread. Root was treated with disdain by both batters, particularly Kohli who hit him for four boundaries spread across two overs and Gill sent Atkinson out of the attack with a four and a six.

The two batters then hit Livingstone for a six each before bringing up their fifties. Against the run of play though, Adil Rashid managed to induce the outside edge of Kohli but England’s hopes of halting the flow of runs proved to be futile. Shreyas Iyer made a positive start to his innings yet again and his boundary-spree saw him race to 40 off just 30 at one point. Gill, who was continuing to make merry at the other end, brought up yet another century at his favourite venue but Rashid gave England a timely strike by getting rid of the opener just when he was looking to cut loose.

The legspinner had a very good outing as he also dismissed a well-set Shreyas for 78 before removing Hardik off the final ball of his spell. India would have still fancied their chances of touching 375 given the platform that was laid but Hardik’s wicket, which was soon followed by Axar’s dismissal, forced them to retreat a touch. KL Rahul, walking out to bat at No.5 this time, chipped in with some timely boundaries to make 40 off just 29 balls before getting trapped lbw by an excellent yorker from Saqib Mahmood. That helped England apply the squeeze and concede only 22 runs in the last three overs, which simply didn’t matter in the end anyway.

Brief scores: India 356 in 50 overs (Shubman Gill 112, Shreyas Iyer 78; Adil Rashid 4/64, Mark Wood 2/45) beat England 214 in 34.2 overs (Gus Atkinson 38; Axar Patel 2/22, Harshit Rana 2/31) by 142 runs

Family Expresses Hope for His Future IPL Selection

Suhail Khan

Baramulla, Feb 12: The joy is overwhelming, and words cannot express the happiness of the family of Sheeri Baramulla cricketer Auqib Nabi, who has become a record-breaker in J&K’s Ranji Trophy.

In an exclusive conversation with Kashmir Despatch, the family of Auqib Nabi expressed their hope that their son will get a chance in the world’s lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL).

The family, while sharing their happiness with Kashmir Despatch about their son’s performance in the Ranji Trophy, said, “Alhamdulillah, it’s incredible to see our son achieving such levels and reaching new heights in cricket. His hard work is finally paying off.”

They credited his success to Almighty Allah and the efforts of his coaches and mentors, stating, “Because of them, not just our family, but the entire district of Baramulla and J&K feels proud.”

Aqib’s father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, a government teacher, expressed hope for his son’s future, stating, “I believe he won’t stop here; he will continue to make his mark in cricket, and I hope he gets selected for the IPL and the Indian team.”

He added, “I am at a loss for words to thank everyone who has supported my son and shown so much love. I never imagined this!”

Aqib’s relative, a well-known cricketer from Sheeri Baramulla, Junaid Dar, reflected on witnessing not only his relative’s achievements but also the overall performance of the J&K team. “It’s a moment of celebration for the entire union territory. Our family is hopeful that my brother Aqib will get a chance in the IPL, where he can truly shine.”

He mentioned that Aqib’s name has been forwarded for selection four times, but “what happened thereafter is just bad luck; he hasn’t had the opportunity yet. Inshallah, he will get a chance and make the whole UT proud.”

Aqib Nabi’s journey from playing tennis-ball cricket in Baramulla to becoming Jammu and Kashmir’s leading wicket-taker this season has been remarkable. The 28-year-old pacer has surpassed Parvez Rasool’s record, taking 43 wickets and cementing his place as the team’s bowling spearhead in the Ranji Trophy.