Pakistan women’s cricket team secures historic T20I series win against South Africa

Pakistan women's cricket team pose for a photograph with the trophy after securing T20i series win against South Africa in Karachi on September 4, 2023. (Photo courtesy: @TheRealPCB/Twitter)
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Updated 05 September 2023
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Pakistan women’s cricket team secures historic T20I series win against South Africa

  • The Green Shirts put up a total of 150 runs while conceding five wickets in 20 overs
  • Proteas managed to amass 144 runs on scoreboard, losing five wickets by end of the match

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan women's cricket team on Monday swept a three-match T20 International series against South Africa after winning the third match by six runs at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi.
Pakistan had already won the first two matches of the series which began on September 1. In the opening game, the hosts secured a five-wicket victory before continuing the winning streak with a six-wicket triumph again South Africa.
The series proved historical for Pakistan since it was their first-ever T20I series victory against the Proteas, breaking new ground in their cricketing journey. It was also their first series win since they emerged victorious against Sri Lanka back in 2022.
“This outstanding performance of the Pakistan women’s team is of extraordinary importance as they have won this series against the world number five team that had played the final of T20 Women’s World Cup this year,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

 

 

In the third match, South Africa won the toss and opted to field. Pakistan managed to score 150 runs for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In response, South Africa posted a total of 144 runs on the scoreboard and lost five wickets by the end of the game.
Pakistan’s first wicket tumbled on 41 when Shawaal Zulfiqar was caught by Nonkululeko Mlaba after contributing 18 runs. Subsequently, Bisma Maroof and Sidra Ameen added 49 runs to the team’s total while trying to consolidate their second-wicket partnership.
Ameen departed from the crease after notching up 39 runs, aided by four boundaries. Meanwhile, Maroof delivered a 39-run innings, featuring three fours.
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits gave their team a stable start, accumulating 31 runs together. However, Nashra Sandhu claimed Brits’ wicket who had made 18 runs.
Sandhu secured her second wicket by dismissing Anneke Bosch, who had contributed 10 runs at that point. South Africa’s total stood at just 61 runs when this wicket fell, but captain Wolvaardt took charge and tried to lead her team toward victory by scoring 72 runs before she was dismissed by Sadia Iqbal.
The two teams are set to continue their cricketing battle with a series of three One-Day International (ODI) matches scheduled in Karachi on September 8, 11, and 14. These ODIs will also be significant as they are part of the ICC Championship.


Daesh media chief for ISKP in Pakistan’s custody — state media

Updated 18 December 2025
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Daesh media chief for ISKP in Pakistan’s custody — state media

  • Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior member of ISKP, used to head its Al Azzam media outlet, says state media
  • Azzam was arrested in May while attempting to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan, says state media

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have taken into custody Sultan Aziz Azzam, the head of Daesh regional affiliate ISKP’s media outlet, state media reported on Thursday citing intelligence sources. 

The state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported that Azzam was a senior member of ISKP and hailed from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. As per the state media report, he is also a graduate of the University of Nangarhar where he studied Islamic jurisprudence. 

Pakistan TV Digital reported Azzam joined ISKP in 2016 and later became a prominent member of its leadership council.

“He was arrested in May 2025 while attempting to cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan,” Pakistan TV Digital reported, citing intelligence sources. 

“He is believed to have overseen media operations and headed ISKP’s Al Azzam media outlet.”

In November 2021, Washington listed Azzam as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” (SDGT). The move bars American citizens from engaging in transactions with persons designated as SDGTs. 

According to a report on the UN Security Council’s website, Azzam has played an “instrumental role” in spreading Daesh’s violent ideology, glorifying and justifying “terrorist acts.” 

“Building on his former experience as an Afghan journalist, his activity as ISIL-K’s spokesperson has increased ISIL-K’s visibility and influence among its followers,” the report states. 

The report further states Azzam claimed responsibility on behalf of Daesh for the suicide attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, which killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 US service members and injured 150 more. 

The development takes place amid tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad alleging militants use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations.

Tensions surged in October when Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in fierce border clashes, claiming to have killed dozens of soldiers of the other side.

Pakistan has urged the Afghan Taliban-led government to take “decisive action” against militants it says operate from its soil. Afghanistan says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.