Pakistan Ditched As Former Pacer Shakes Hands With South Africa Before Champions Trophy

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has earned the services of ex-Pakistan pacer, Yasir Arafat, as their new bowling consultant ahead of the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy 2025 and the tri-series.

Arafat became the first Test player of his country to complete the Level 4 coaching course of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) at Loughborough University.

South Africa declares Yasir Arafat as the new bowling coach

The 43-year-old featured in three Tests for the national side to smash 94 runs in three innings at an average of 47 and pick nine wickets at an average of 48.66. However, his top clash first-class experience of 207 games to get 7110 runs and 790 wickets gives him a huge honor in the game.

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The Rawalpindi-born also played 24 white-ball fixtures for Pakistan to manage 166 runs and bag 20 wickets. He arrived at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from London to join South Africa’s training camp ahead of the first game of the tri-series against New Zealand. It will take place on February 10.

Arafat has also gained experience as a bowling coach for several countries, including Sussex and Surrey. He also worked with the Perth Scorchers franchise in the Big Bash League (BBL), besides serving the role of his country’s high-performance coach and the bowling coach for the Hong Kong National Team.

Temba Bavuma-led side to begin Champions Trophy preparation

Due to the recently concluded SA20, many first-choice South Africa players could not make their trip to Pakistan for the tri-series opener. Heinrich Klassen and Keshav Maharaj, both players from the Durba Supergiants, will miss their opening encounter against the Blackcaps in Lahore before joining the squad for the second game at the National Stadium in Karachi.

Aiden Markram, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, and others will miss the entire tri-series in Pakistan but will immediately be involved in the eight-team tournament. Their opening game will be against Afghanistan in Karachi before they move to Rawalpindi Stadium to take on Australia.

South Africa will return to Karachi to face England in their last group-stage encounter. The first semifinal and final of the tournament will take place in Dubai, depending on India’s qualification, while the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host the second semifinal and possibly the final if the Rohit Sharma-led side fails to qualify.

The Proteas won the inaugural edition of the Champions Trophy in 1998 in Bangladesh. That remains their only ICC event win across all formats.

Pakistan pacers struggle against New Zealand

Pakistan started their tri-series against the Kiwis at the renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Their left-arm pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, found the outside edge of visiting opener Will Young early in the afternoon before Rachin Ravindra hit the ball back in the hands of spinner Abrar Ahmed.

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Daryl Mitchell smashed a fine knock of 81 runs in 84 to share a 95-run stand with Kane Williamson, who also celebrated his half-century. Glenn Phillips remained not out on 106 runs in just 74 balls at a strike rate of 140 to carry them to 330/6 in 50 overs.

Apart from the opener, Fakhar Zaman, no one stood out in the chase for Pakistan. They kept losing wickets from one end, as Zaman drilled 84 runs in 69 balls at a strike rate of 121.74. They were bundled out for just 252 runs and received a heavy 78-run defeat in the opening clash. Shaheen’s figures of 3/88, Naseem Shah’s 0/70, and Haris Rauf’s injury to leave the field will be a huge concern for the home side.