Sports

Faisalabad: International cricket returns to Faisalabad for the first time in 17 years on Tuesday when newly installed ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi leads Pakistan in the three-match series against an under-strength South Africa.

Iqbal Stadium last hosted an ODI against Bangladesh in 2008, before the terrorist attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus the following year forced Pakistan to organize its home matches at neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates for six years.

Since international cricket gradually returned to Pakistan in 2015, major cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan have all hosted foreign teams. But Faisalabad wasn’t able to stage international games due to lack of facilities, which have improved over the last couple of years.

“It is exciting to see intern

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