### Pakistan's Cricketing Triumph: A New Era Under Shaheen Afridi Pakistan's cricket team has recently made headlines with a series of impressive performances, particularly in the T20I and ODI formats against South Africa. Following a 2-1 victory in the T20I series, key players Babar Azam and Saim Ayub have seen significant improvements in their ICC T20I rankings. Babar climbed nine spots to 30th, while Saim surged ten places to 39th after their stellar contributions in the series. The ODI series commenced with Pakistan's thrilling two-wicket win in the first match, marking a successful start under the captaincy of Shaheen Afridi, who is leading the team for the first time in ODIs after the sacking of Mohammad Rizwan. This victory not only highlights the team's resilience but also sets a promising tone for the upcoming matches in the series [https://24newshd.tv/05-Nov-2025/babar-azam-saim-ayub-soar-icc-t20i-rankings-series-win-south-africa, https://pakobserver.net/south-africa-set-264-run-target-for-pakistan-in-odi-series-opener]. ### Breakdown of Recent Cricket Events 1. **T20I Series Overview** - Pakistan won the T20I series against South Africa 2-1. - Babar Azam's match-winning innings of 68 in the third T20I was pivotal for the series win, allowing him to break a record previously held by Virat Kohli [https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/babar-azam-creates-history-puts-virat-kohlis-colossal-world-record-to-dust-becomes-first-player-to-score-40-fifty-plus-scores-in-t20is-article-153088682]. - Saim Ayub's performance also stood out, particularly his unbeaten 71 in the second T20I [https://24newshd.tv/05-Nov-2025/babar-azam-saim-ayub-soar-icc-t20i-rankings-series-win-south-africa]. 2. **ODI Series Commencement** - The ODI series began on November 4, 2025, at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, marking the return of international cricket to the venue after 17 years [https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/pakistan-vs-south-africa-live-score-1st-odi-pak-vs-sa-match-pakistan-national-cricket-team-vs-south-africa-cricket-team-scorecard-commentary-liveblog-153096787]. - Pakistan chased down a target of 264 runs, finishing at 264 for 8 in 49.4 overs, with Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan contributing significantly to the chase [https://24newshd.tv/04-Nov-2025/pakistan-edge-south-africa-two-wickets-thrilling-odi-opener]. 3. **Player Rankings and Performances** - Babar Azam and Saim Ayub's performances have led to significant improvements in their ICC T20I rankings, with Babar now at 30th and Saim at 39th [https://24newshd.tv/05-Nov-2025/babar-azam-saim-ayub-soar-icc-t20i-rankings-series-win-south-africa]. - In the bowling department, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed were instrumental in restricting South Africa to 263 runs, each taking three wickets [https://pakobserver.net/south-africa-set-264-run-target-for-pakistan-in-odi-series-opener]. ### Summary of Findings - **Key Outcomes**: Pakistan's cricket team has shown remarkable form, winning the T20I series and starting the ODI series with a victory. Babar Azam's resurgence in form and Saim Ayub's rise in rankings are significant highlights. - **Leadership Transition**: Shaheen Afridi's captaincy marks a new chapter for the team, with promising results in the initial matches. - **Future Prospects**: With the second ODI on the horizon, Pakistan aims to build on this momentum and secure a series victory against South Africa. In conclusion, Pakistan's recent cricketing achievements reflect a blend of individual brilliance and team resilience, setting a hopeful stage for the remainder of the series against South Africa [https://24newshd.tv/04-Nov-2025/pakistan-edge-south-africa-two-wickets-thrilling-odi-opener, https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/pakistan-vs-south-africa-live-score-1st-odi-pak-vs-sa-match-pakistan-national-cricket-team-vs-south-africa-cricket-team-scorecard-commentary-liveblog-153096787].