South African batsman Graeme Smith may miss the fifth and final One-Day International against Pakistan on Sunday (24th March) after his ankle injury flared up during the fourth game in Durban.
Pakistan won the match by three wickets to level the series and Smith's absence in the decider, would be a huge blow for the Proteas, who are already missing Faf du Plessis with a back problem.
The latest twist in the see-sawing One-Day International series between South Africa and Pakistan saw the tourists eventually take a three-wicket win in the fourth match in Durban to level the series at 2-2.
They made a flying start although South Africa recovered to post a score of 234 for nine and after a poor start themselves, Pakistan almost threw away a winning position before scrambling home with eight balls to spare.
South Africa One-Day International captain AB de Villiers says he is pleased to have come through a major test of his leadership skills in Sunday's 34-run win over Pakistan.
In a high-scoring game, South Africa defended 343 for five by bowling Pakistan out for 309 and de Villiers had to combat Shahid Afridi, who blasted 88 in just 48 balls.
Ahead of tomorrow's fourth One-Day International between the South Africa and Pakistan in Durban, South African all-rounder Robin Peterson says the series is shaping up to be a 'nice little contest'.
South Africa lead the series 2-1 after wins in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg but will be missing batsman Faf du Plessis due to injury.
Both South Africa and Pakistan have injury concerns ahead of the crucial fourth One-Day International in Durban on Thursday. Faf du Plessis has been ruled out for the remainder of the series with a back injury, while Pakistan have called up Sohail Tanvir as cover for Mohammad Irfan and Umar Gul.
A packed Wanderers crowd, dressed predominantly in pink to raise awareness of breast cancer, were treated to a batting masterclass by players on both sides in the third One-Day International between Pakistan and South Africa.
AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla hit fluent centuries, adding a world-record 238 for the third-wicket, to lead South Africa to 343 for three five after they had been asked to bat.
An incisive opening spell from Mohammad Irfan lead Pakistan to a series levelling victory in the second One-Day International against South Africa at SuperSport Park. The tall left-arm quick soon had the home side on the back foot and they never really recovered in spite of a mature 58 from Farhaan Behardien.
Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik then calmed any Pakistan nerves in their run chase with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 77.
South African batsman Farhaan Behardien is growing into his role as a middle-order finisher in the Proteas One-Day International side, approaching his task with aggressive relish.
Soon after a match-turning effort for South Africa in the opening ODI against Pakistan, he delivered a similar performance for the Nashua Titans, filling him with confidence ahead of Friday's second ODI at Centurion Park.
Ahead of Friday's second One-Day International against Pakistan, South Africa Test captain Graeme Smith returned to his old school to deliver a speech.
His visit to to King Edward VII School in Johannesburg came soon after a tragic incident in which nine young cricketers were struck by lightning while putting covers on the pitch during a first-team game.
South Africa put the disappointment of the Twenty20 defeat behind them with a resounding win in the opening ODI against Pakistan. Colin Ingram and AB de Villiers built on a solid start given to them by Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith to take the home side to 315 for four from their 50 overs.
Rory Kleinveldt and Ryan McLaren then helped South Africa bounce back from the good start that Pakistan's openers had given them. McLaren took three for 19 and Kleinveldt four for 22 as the tourists lost regular wickets throughout.
South Africa coach Gary Kirsten has marked down his side's upcoming One-Day International series against Pakistan as part of an 'important period' for the Proteas.
The five-match series, which begins in Bloemfontein on Sunday (10th March) is one of seven matches for South Africa ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales in June.
The Pakistanis held their nerve to defeat a South Africa Invitational XI in their only warm-up match ahead of the ODI series against South Africa. Chasing 267 to win, they slipped to 154 for six before rallying courtesy of several contributions from the lower-order. Shahid Afridi hit a brisk 29 off only 19 balls, while Umar Gul chipped in with 30. Abdur Rehman ended on 35 not out as they won by one wicket with two balls to spare.
South African fast bowler Chris Morris has been reprimanded after he broke the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Code of Conduct in the second Twenty20 International against Pakistan at Centurion Park.
He was found guilty of having too many manufacturer logos on his helmet while batting, in contravention of clothing regulations.
Pakistan bounced back from their disappointing Test series showing in the most resounding fashion possible; inflicting defeat on the home side by 95 runs in the second Twenty20 International in Centurion.
Mohammad Hafeez perhaps epitomised the turnaround better than anyone. He had looked all at sea, both technically and mentally, during the Test series against Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, but with those two absent, he smashed 85 off only 51 balls to lead Pakistan to 195 for seven.
Torrential rain in Durban meant that the first Twenty20 International between South Africa and Pakistan was abandoned without a ball bowled in Kingsmead, Durban.
South Africa's Twenty20 International captain Faf du Plessis says he is to keen to inject the side with fresh ideas during the two-match series that gets underway tonight (1st March) in Durban.
Du Plessis continues to lead the side after AB de Villiers chose to step down as captain, and the new skipper plans to use de Villiers as an opening batsman.
If the Test series between the two sides was a complete mismatch at times, AB de Villiers is expecting a much more even contest when South Africa take on Pakistan in two Twenty20 Internationals later this week.
The 2009 ICC World Twenty20 champions beat South Africa in last year's renewal in Sri Lanka and wicket-keeper de Villiers says they are a 'dangerous' side.
Cricket World Player Of The Week Kyle Abbott has been added to South Africa's One-Day International squad as cover for fellow fast bowler Morne Morkel.
Morkel missed the third and final Test against Pakistan with a hamstring injury but was expected to return to full fitness in time for the first ODI on 10th March in Bloemfontein.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) have named a South African Invitation XI which will play the touring Pakistanis in a one-day game next Wednesday (6th March).
As the match comes in the middle of the domestic Twenty20 competition, Stephen Cook will captain a side made up of players who represent the Dolphins and Lions franchises.
South Africa's Kyle Abbott pips Indian captain MS Dhoni to this week's award.
The 25 year-old Dolphins seamer returned the second best innings figures by a South African on debut behind Lance Klusener, who took eight for 64 against India in 1996.
We look back at South Africa's innings-and-18-run defeat of Pakistan at Centurion which was their sixth Test win in a row.
They needed just three days win in the third and final Test and the clean sweep.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith has hailed the current Proteas outfit as the best team he has played in following their 3-0 Test series clean sweep over Pakistan.
During the series, Smith took his 50th win as a Test captain and the side stretched their unbeaten run to 15 matches, including victory in each of their last six games.
Pakistan's hopes of making South Africa bat again in the third Test in Centurion were effectively ended shortly after lunch during a middle-order collapse of four for 21. That reduced the tourists to 114 for six and, despite some unexpected resistance from the lower-order, the match was won midway through the final session.
The win was Graeme Smith's 50th as South Africa's Test captain and wrapped up a clean sweep for the Proteas this summer.
South Africa go into the third and final Test against Pakistan already guaranteed of another series victory but no less determined to end their summer on a winning note.
They haven't lost a Test match since December 2011, when Sri Lanka (also the last side to defeat them in a series away from home) beat them in Durban.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) have confirmed that Hashim Amla has stepped down as vice-captain to AB de Villiers in One-Day and Twenty20 International cricket.
The move comes after Amla decided against taking over the captaincy during the ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year to focus on his batting.
All-rounder Shahid Afridi is poised to make another international comeback after he was named in Pakistan's 16-man One-Day International squad to play South Africa.
Afridi played for Pakistan against Australia in September before being left out of the One-Day International series in India, although he and Shoaib Malik, who has also been recalled, did feature in the Twenty20 matches.
Faf du Plessis has been re-appointed as South Africa's Twenty20 International captain ahead of the Pakistan series following AB de Villiers' request to stand down.
De Villiers will continue to lead the One-Day International side, however, which plays five matches against Pakistan from 10th to 24th March.
South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel has, as expected, been ruled out of the third and final Test against Pakistan due to the hamstring injury he picked up during the second Test in Cape Town.
The injury prevented him from bowling in the second innings although South Africa nevertheless wrapped up a four-wicket win that ensures they will retain the number one Test ranking regardless of results around the world between now and April.
A match that swung this way and that throughout was ended by a final decisive swing towards South Africa in a crazy 45 minute session before lunch on day four. From a position of strength at 147 for four, Pakistan lost four wickets for five runs and were all out for 169 in their second innings, leaving the hosts needing just 182 for a series-clinching victory.
Hashim Amla anchored the run chase with an elegant 58 as South Africa chose to go after a Pakistan attack which was again overly dependent on Saeed Ajmal.
The touring Pakistan side took a morale-boosting and welcome 10-wicket victory on the second and final day of their tour game against a Cape Cobras Emerging Players side in Rondenbosch.
After bowling their hosts for just 78 in their second innings, the Pakistanis continued batting having reached their target, closing on 126 for one with Younus Khan hitting an unbeaten half-century.
Dale Steyn's superb display of swing bowling in the first innings at the Wanderers is just enough for him to earn this week's award. He would go on to end with career-best match figures of 11 for 60 after taking another five wickets in Pakistan’s second innings to underline just why he is ranked by the ICC as Test cricket's leading bowler.
Dale Steyn returned career-best match figures of 11 for 60 as South Africa wrapped up a 211-run win over Pakistan on day four of the first Test in Johannesburg.
Having been set an unlikely 480 to win, Pakistan were bowled out for 268 in their second innings with Steyn taking five for 52 to add to his first innings haul of six for eight.
Former Pakistan opener Aamir Sohail believes his country's upcoming Test series in South Africa will provide a 'severe test of Misbah-ul-Haq's captaincy'.
Pakistan take on the number one ranked side in three Tests in Johannesburg, Centurion Park and Cape Town with the opening Test beginning on Friday (1st February).
South Africa have been presented with boost ahead of the first Test against Pakistan in Johannesburg with Vernon Philander and Hashim Amla passed fit to play.
Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson remains in doubt, however, after he split the webbing on his right hand during the One-Day International series defeat to New Zealand.
Ahead of the first Test between South Africa and Pakistan, which gets underway on Friday (1st February) at The Wanderers, Johannesburg, former Pakistan coach Richard Pybus believes the Pakistan bowlers have what it takes to trouble the home side.
Writing for www.pakpassion.net, he describes the attack that Misbah-ul-Haq has at his disposal 'mouth-watering'.
Ahead of their three-match Test series against South Africa, the touring Pakistanis drew their only warm-up match with a South African Invitational XI.
On the final day, Pakistan declared on 250 for nine, setting the home side 323 to win and thanks to a half-century from captain Justin Ontong, Pakistan's victory chances came to nothing.
Imran Tahir has been added to South Africa's squad for the first Test against Pakistan as cover for fellow spinner Robin Peterson. Peterson split the webbing between the third and fourth fingers on his right hand during the second One-Day International against New Zealand and was subsequently ruled out of the third.
Pakistan have bolstered the fast-bowling part of their squad ahead of what is likely to be a demanding Test tour of South Africa. Tanvir Ahmed and Rahat Ali have been called up and will join existing quick-bowlers Umar Gul, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan and Ehsan Adil in the now 18-strong party.
Following a difficult second half to day one, the Pakistanis were back to near their best on day two to show just why the upcoming Test series against South Africa is so eagerly anticipated. Resuming on 178 for six, they were hauled up to 329 by the overnight pair of Sarfraz Ahmed and Umar Gul. Gul then took two wickets in the ninth over of the South African Invitational XI's reply as they slipped to 31 for three.
Former Pakistan batsman Zaheer Abbas believes Pakistan could surprise their hosts South Africa during their three-match Test series in February.
Pakistan get the tour underway on Friday (25th January) with a four-day match before playing the Proteas in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Centurion.
Vernon Philander has been named in South Africa's squad for the first Test against Pakistan, which begins in Johannesburg on 1st February.
The 13-man squad is South Africa's first choice one, with Ryan McLaren, who was called up as cover for Philander, who missed the final Test against New Zealand due to a hamstring injury, omitted. Rory Kleinveldt and Jacques Rudolph are expected to be the spare bower and batsman in the party.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has called for his fast bowlers to 'stand up and be counted' as they take on South Africa, a team with arguably the best pace attack in the world.
Matching an attack which can choose from Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Rory Kleinveldt will be no easy task during a three-Test series which gets underway in Johannesburg on 1st February.
Pakistan have named a 16-man squad for their three-Test series in South Africa which gets underway in February.
Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Irfan have been added to the squad after a series of impressive performances in the recent One-Day International series win over India.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) have confirmed that Russell Domingo will take over day-to-day coaching of the Twenty20 International side.
Current head coach Gary Kirsten will remain in charge of the Test and One-Day International teams and be accountable for all three squads.
