Offspinner Simon Harmer took six wickets to help dismiss Pakistan for 138, giving South Africa a 68-run target to win the second test in Rawalpindi on Thursday and draw the series.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood gave a vote of confidence to his country’s controversial policy of preparing slow, spinning wickets for home tests, even after it backfired on Thursday and they lost the second test to South Africa.

Debutant left-arm spinner Asif Afridi produced a dream performance with a six-wicket haul, while skipper Babar Azam stood firm with an unbeaten half-century as Pakistan ended Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa with a narrow 23-run lead at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

In the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan that began yesterday evening, the Afghan Army launched a strong counterattack against Pakistani military positions. In its retaliation, Afghan forces destroyed several Pakistani posts,

Pakistan and Malaysia on Monday renewed their long-standing friendship with a flurry of high-level engagements, culminating in the signing of six significant accords to bolster cooperation across trade, education, Halal certification, anti-corruption, and tourism.

At 38 years and 299 days, Asif Afridi became the second oldest player to make Test debut for Pakistan officially. Afridi was earlier handed a one-year ban by the PCB in spot fixing but was allowed to return to cricket after six months.