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Faisalabad: International cricket is set to make a long-awaited return to Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium after a 17-year hiatus, with Pakistan hosting South Africa in a three-match one-day international (ODI) series starting on Tuesday.
The central Punjab city last staged an international fixture in 2008, when Pakistan faced Bangladesh in an ODI. Since then, Faisalabad has remained absent from the international cricket circuit, largely due to inadequate facilities and Pakistan’s extended exile from hosting international matches.
Pakistan was forced into a six-year isolation following the 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore. For years, the national side played its home fixtures in neutral venues such as the United Arab Emirates. Gradual efforts since 2015 have helped restore international cricket to Pakistan, but Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium lagged behind other cities such as Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi in terms of infrastructure.
That gap has now been bridged. In recent years, extensive improvements to facilities and crowd management have earned Faisalabad a place back on the international calendar.
Newly appointed ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi hailed the decision to bring top-flight cricket back to Faisalabad, calling it a “special occasion” for local fans.
“It’s a special occasion that Faisalabad is hosting an international match after 17 years,” Shaheen said on Monday. “It will be good for the fans of the city who have waited a long time for this moment.”
Afridi, who leads the side for the first time in the 50-over format, acknowledged that captaincy comes with added pressure.
“It’s an honour for me to lead the country,” he said. “With this role comes great responsibility, and I’ll do my best to deliver for the team.”
Shaheen’s leadership will be backed by a full-strength squad featuring star players Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Rizwan in the batting order, while the pace attack will be spearheaded by Shaheen, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah.
The ODI series follows a tightly contested tour in which South Africa drew the two-match Test series 1–1 and lost 2–1 in the Twenty20 internationals.
South Africa will, however, be without several of their mainstays. Regular captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out through injury, while seven key players—including pacers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen—have been rested ahead of a packed international schedule.
Leadership duties have been handed to 25-year-old Matthew Breetzke, who made headlines earlier this year with a record-breaking 150 on his ODI debut against New Zealand in Lahore.
Breetzke said the series was an opportunity for South Africa’s emerging players to showcase their talent despite the absence of senior stars.
“We are missing the core group of ODI players that we usually have,” he said. “But this gives the younger guys a chance to step up, learn quickly, and take on the challenge.”
Adding experience to the touring side, Quinton de Kock is set to make his return to ODI cricket, reversing his retirement announced in 2023. His inclusion is expected to bolster an otherwise youthful batting lineup.
The decision to bring top-tier cricket back to Faisalabad marks a significant milestone in Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to revive international sport across all major venues. Over the past decade, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has invested heavily in upgrading stadiums, improving player facilities, and ensuring world-class security arrangements.
For Faisalabad’s passionate fans, the revival carries deep emotional significance. Long known for its lively crowds and fervent support, the city will once again echo with the cheers of thousands as it hosts all three ODIs—on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
With Pakistan fielding a near full-strength side and South Africa’s younger brigade looking to make an impression, the series promises to deliver competitive cricket and rekindle memories of Faisalabad’s storied past.
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