Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has taken seven wickets in his return from injury to help South Africa bowl out Pakistan for 333 in the second cricket test.

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood is set to step down from his leadership role and join the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as director international cricket, a day after his side’s defeat to South Africa in Rawalpindi.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday described the ongoing Pakistan–South Africa cricket series as a symbol of enduring friendship and mutual respect between the two nations, saying the game continues to strengthen people-to-people ties and project Pakistan’s soft image globally.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as its new ODI captain. Afridi replaces Mohammad Rizwan and will lead Pakistan in a three-match home series against South Africa in Faisalabad from November 4 to 8.

Afghanistan has pulled out of an upcoming cricket series after three players in a local tournament were killed in an air strike it blamed Pakistan for. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said it would withdraw from November's tri-nation T20 series out of respect for the dead. The three did not play for the national team.

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has been appointed Consultant of International Cricket at the PCB. His dual role comes amid board restructuring, with the 36-year-old set to advise on tours and team management while continuing as Test skipper.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has withdrawn its national team from next month's Twenty20 tri-series in Pakistan.

Mohammad Rizwan has refused to sign Pakistan's new central contract after being demoted to Category B. He is reportedly seeking the reinstatement of Category A for senior players and clearer tenures for captains.