Efforts are underway to rescue survivors from one of South Africa’s deepest mines, where hundreds of illegal miners have been trapped underground for months. A cage-like structure was sent down to the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in a bid to bring out the survivors. Authorities believe over 100 miners have died from starvation or dehydration, AP reports. Since Friday, 18 bodies and 26 survivors have been recovered from the mine. However, more than 500 miners are feared to still be trapped underground. While police are uncertain about the exact number, it is estimated that hundreds remain inside. The mine, located near Stilfontein, southwest of Johannesburg, has been at the center of a standoff between miners, police, and local communities since November. The conflict began when authorities launched an operation to remove illegal miners. Some miners have reportedly been underground since July or August of the previous year. Chinese gold mining endangers Congo's protected UN heritage site Authorities insist the miners are refusing to leave, but rights organizations have contested this claim. They have criticized police for cutting off food and water supplies to force the miners out. Activists argue that many miners are unable to climb out because the shaft is too steep, and the ropes and pulley systems they used to enter have been removed. Illegal mining is widespread in South Africa, especially in abandoned, gold-rich mines. Miners often stay underground for months, relying on supplies sent from the surface by others. Some miners have escaped since November, but many fear arrest if they emerge. Rights groups say the miners’ only escape route is a dangerous journey to another shaft, a trek that can take days. The mine, 2.5 kilometers deep, is a maze of tunnels and multiple shafts. In December, a mining advocacy group took authorities to court to ensure food, water, and medicine were delivered to the trapped miners. Two cellphone videos released by the group show emaciated miners and numerous dead bodies. South African authorities continue to face scrutiny for their response to the crisis.

The ICC has fined Pakistan players 25 percent of their match fee and also docked the team five World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over-rate against South Africa in the second test at Newlands. South Africa, which will take on Australia in the WTC final at Lord’s in June, swept Pakistan 2-0 in the series with a 10-wicket win inside four days in the second test. Defiant Masood narrows Pakistan's deficit to 109 in 2nd test against South Africa The ICC said in a statement that match referee Richie Richardson of the West Indies imposed the sanction after “Pakistan was ruled to be five overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.” According to the ICC code of conduct, players are fined five percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. The teams are also penalized one WTC point for each over short. The ICC also said that Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. Pakistan is at No. 8 in the points table just above last-placed West Indies.

Pakistan had an injury scare when opening batter Saim Ayub twisted his right ankle on the field as South Africa reached 72-3 at lunch on day 1 of the second and final test on Friday. Ayub fell awkwardly in the outfield and was visibly in lot of pain as he received brief treatment on the ground before he was rushed to a hospital for precautionary scans. The Pakistan team management said an update on the extent of Ayub’s injury “will be provided in due course.” South Africa, which has already sealed its place in June’s World Test Championship final with a dramatic two-wicket win in the first test at Centurion inside four days, lost three wickets for nine runs in the latter half of first session after getting a promising start of 61. Ryan Rickleton completed his half century in the last over before lunch and was unbeaten on 50, but off-spinner Salman Ali Agha pegged the home team further when he had Tristan Stubbs caught behind for zero which gave wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan his third catch of the morning session. Young Maphaka makes debut as SAfrica wins the toss and bats 1st in 2nd test vs Pakistan South Africa settled in well despite Aiden Markram surviving a close lbw off Mohammad Abbas’ first ball after skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat on a dry wicket. Rickleton batted aggressively against an all-pace attack but Markram looked shaky in his 17-run knock off 44 balls and was also dropped at covers by Ayub’s substitute Abdullah Shafique. However, the lapse didn’t cost Pakistan as Khurram Shahzad broke the opening stand when he found the inside edge of Markram’s bat. Wiaan Mulder, one of the three changes South Africa made from its Centurion playing XI, fell to Abbas when the seamer found the thick outside edge before Agha got rid of Stubbs at stoke of lunch interval. Kwena Maphaka was among the three changes the Proteas made as the fast bowler became the youngest South African to make his test debut. At 18 years, 270 days, Maphaka broke the record of Paul Adams, who played his first test against England in 1995 at the age of 18 years, 340 days. The home team, which has six successive test wins, opted to go with the express pace of Maphaka in place of Dane Paterson, who was dropped after picking up his second successive five-wicket haul at Centurion. India's top order collapses to 57-3 at lunch vs Australia on Day 1 of 5th test Corbin Bosch was left out after making a stunning test debut in the first test where he took a wicket with his first ball and then made a scintillating unbeaten half century in the first innings which gave South Africa a match-winning lead of 90 runs. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has recovered from a groin injury and replaced Bosch. Opening batter Tony de Zorzi had a thigh strain and was replaced by Mulder as the all-rounder recovered from a finger injury and returned to the playing XI. Pakistan, which has won just two of its last nine test matches in this WTC cycle, once again went without a specialist spinner. It rested fast bowler Naseem Shah and brought in left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza.

Kwena Maphaka became the youngest South African to make a test debut as the Proteas won the toss and elected to bat in the second and final test against Pakistan on Friday. The 18 years and 270 days old Maphaka broke Paul Adams’ South Africa record of youngest test player, who played his first test against England in 1995 at the age of 18 years and 340 days. South Africa made three changes after sealing its place in June’s World Test Championship final with a dramatic two-wicket win in the first test at Centurion inside four days. Australia, India and Sri Lanka all still in the race for the Lord’s WTC final against South Africa in June. Australia could advance to face South Africa if it wins the fifth test against India in Sydney. “It’s hot and we expect the wicket to break up,” South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said at the coin toss. “We’ve had time to wrap around what we’ve achieved, the preparations for this test have been the priority … a chance to finish off with a good note.” India's top order collapses to 57-3 at lunch vs Australia on Day 1 of 5th test Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas brought Pakistan close to its first test win in South Africa in 18 years with 6-54 in the second innings at Centurion but tailenders Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen shared a half century ninth-wicket stand and quashed the visitors hopes. The home team, which has six successive test wins, opted to go with the express pace of Maphaka in place of Dane Paterson, who was dropped after picking up his second successive five-wicket haul at Centurion. Corbin Bosch was left out after making a stunning test debut in the first test where he took a wicket with his first ball and then made a scintillating unbeaten half century in the first innings which gave South Africa a match-winning lead of 90 runs. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has recovered from a groin injury and replaced Bosch. Opening batter Tony de Zorzi had a thigh strain and was replaced by Wiaan Mulder as the all-rounder recovered from a finger injury and returned to the playing XI. Pakistan, which has won just two of its last nine test matches in this WTC cycle, once again went without a specialist spinner. It rested fast bowler Naseem Shah and brought in left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza. “A bit less grass than usual, but we would have had a bowl,” Pakistan captain Shan Masood said.

South Africa tailenders Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen hung in against relentless fast bowler Mohammad Abbas for a tense two-wicket win in the first test on Sunday to seal the Proteas' place in next year’s World Test Championship final. Jansen (16 not out) overshadowed Abbas’ brilliant figures of 6-54 with a square driven boundary against the fast bowler as South Africa reached 150-8 just after lunch on Day 4 and escaped with a close win in the opener of the two-match series. “Quite an emotional moment for me, good advert for test cricket,” said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, who made 40. “We haven’t been ruthless but have found a way to ensure the result was on our side. Lot of joy and happiness on our side, a bit of a rollercoaster, glad that we were able to get the result.” Abbas, making a comeback after more than three years in the test wilderness, had knocked back South Africa’s tricky chase of 148 runs in a marathon 13-over spell before lunch on Day 4 as the home team limped to 99-8, losing four wickets for three runs. Australia lose openers but stretch lead to 158 runs at lunch, day 4 of 4th test against India However, Rabada changed gears in an unbroken 51-run stand with Jansen and made an unbeaten 31 off 26 balls with five fours to seal a memorable victory and denied Pakistan its first test win in South Africa in almost 18 years. South Africa had started this WTC cycle with a 1-1 drawn series against India before getting swept 2-0 in New Zealand. But since then the Proteas have beaten West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to stay on top of the table. “It (WTC final) is a big one, not just for myself but also the team and the coach," Bavuma said. "The way we started our campaign, against India and then New Zealand with a not-so-strong team, and the way we have gone through with our performances, not many gave us a chance.” India, Australia and Sri Lanka are the other teams still in contention for next June’s WTC final against South Africa at Lord’s. Captain Temba Bavuma (40) and Aiden Markram (37) had thwarted Abbas for an hour after South Africa resumed at a wobbly 27-3, still needing 121 for victory. Bavuma’s controversial dismissal punctuated a South Africa collapse in the latter half of first session with Abbas grabbing three off his six balls in a sensational home team collapse. Bavuma, who made 40, surprisingly didn’t request a television review when replays suggested that Abbas’ ball had brushed the batter’s pocket and didn’t make contact with the inside edge of the bat but the South African skipper walked back to the dressing room. Abbas bowled an unchanged marathon spell of 13 overs, but had to wait as Markram and Bavuma saw off eight overs from the fast bowlers. Resuming at 27-3, Bavuma and Markram showed plenty of patience against Abbas’ probing line and length before the fast bowler finally got the breakthrough after the first drinks break. Abbas was rewarded for his brilliant seam bowling when he beat the outside edge of Markram’s bat and knocked back the off stump. Rain washes out first session on Day 3 of 1st test between South Africa and Pakistan Bavuma survived a couple of close chances when he successfully overturned an on-field lbw decision against him early in the day and Naseem Shah couldn’t hold onto a sharp catch at fine leg as he overstepped the boundary cushion while grabbing the ball over his head. South Africa had controlled the game at 96-4 before Bavuma’s dismissal saw Abbas finding the outside edges of David Bedingham (14) and Corbin Bosch’s (0) bat off successive deliveries and in between Kyle Verreynne dragged Naseem Shah’s delivery back onto his stumps. Abbas found the outside edge of Rabada's bat in his first over after lunch that fell just short of wicketkeeper Rizwan before both tailenders took the team home. “Extremely proud of the efforts, but going forward we need to be ruthless,” Pakistan captain Shan Masood said. “We keep making the same mistakes but we have to get over the line, seize moments.” The second test begins at Cape Town on Friday.

Opening batter Aiden Markram closed in on his eighth test century and led South Africa to 180-5 at lunch on the second day of the first test against Pakistan on Friday. South Africa, which needs to win one of the two test matches against Pakistan to seal a place in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord’s next year, trails the visitors by 31 on a pitch tailor-made for fast bowlers. Markram was batting on an attractive 81 off 123 balls before Pakistan hit back with two wickets in the latter half of the first session with captain Temba Bavuma (31) and David Bedingham (30) both edging behind the wickets. Wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne was yet to score but Markram stood tall in the first session and helped South Africa score 98 runs before lunch for the loss of two wickets. Resuming on 82-3, Markram completed his half century with an exquisite cover driven boundary off Naseem Shah and stretched the fourth-wicket stand to 70 runs with Bavuma before Pakistan got its first breakthrough. Aamer Jamal was rewarded for his persistent length balls to Bavuma as the South African skipper finally got a thick outside edge while going for a loose drive. Bedingham counterattacked from the onset, smashing five boundaries in his 33-ball knock and also survived when Pakistan unsuccessfully went for an lbw television review against Naseem Shah’s full pitched delivery, which television replays suggested would have missed the leg stump. Steve Smith's 34th test century puts Australia in control over India on 2nd day of 4th test However, Naseem didn’t have to wait long as Bedingham was beaten by some extra bounce and nicked it in the first slip in the penultimate over before lunch. Pakistan was dismissed for 211 on Day 1 after Dane Paterson (5-61) grabbed his second successive five-wicket haul and debutant Corbin Bosch claimed 4-63, which included a wicket with his first ball in test cricket.

After a rampant bowling display by Kagiso Rabada, South Africa beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in the Dhaka Test on Thursday.  Rabada ended the match, taking 9 wickets, conceding 72 runs. Along the way, he reached 300 Test wickets as the fastest bowler (in terms of bowling-less deliveries) in history.  The tourists secured a 1-0 lead in the series. The second and final Test of the series will be played in Chattogram on October 29.  South Africa needed only 106 runs to seal the match. They chased it down inside the first session of the fourth day in just 22 overs. Opener Tony de Zorzi hit 41 off just 52 balls hitting 7 fours, and Tristan Stubbs remained unbeaten for 30, ensuring no further fall of wickets. Taijul Islam bagged all three wickets South Africa lost on the fourth day. With this, he took a total of eight wickets in the match. And along the way, he completed 200 wickets in Test as the second Bangladeshi bowler after Shakib Al Hasan.  Bangladesh ended their second innings on 307, securing a lead of 105 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz missed a century just for three runs.  After the match, Mehidy said he was not worried about the century, he rather focused on guiding the team to a better position.  Read: Mehidy, Jaker lead Bangladesh’s fightback in Dhaka Test “As a batamsan, it’s disappointing to miss the century,” he said. “But I was only focussed to guide the team to a better position. I would have been happier if I had execute my plan.” Rabada took six wickets for 46 runs. He was the main bowler that Bangladesh batters failed to play well. In the first innings, he took three wickets.  “He is one in a million,” Aiden Markram, South Africa’s stand-in captain, said after the match praising Rabada. “We are lucky to have him in the team. It’s fantastic to see him do well.” On Wednesday, less than 58 overs of play was possible. Rain and bad lights wasted more than 2.5 hours of play.  In the first innings of the match, Bangladesh scored 106, in reply, South Africa posted 308, riding on a century of Kyle Verreynne.  Bangladesh never won a Test match against South Africa, and they now failed again in the 15th attempt. 

Bangladesh secured an 81-run lead at the end of day three of the Dhaka Test against South Africa, which was cut short due to bad light on Wednesday. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and debutant Jaker Ali hit a fifty each, helping Bangladesh escape the fear of innings defeat. Jaker was the 18th Bangladeshi batter to score a fifty on debut. They put on a 138-run stand before Jaker was dismissed by Keshav Maharaj. Jaker made 58 runs. Less than 58 overs of play was possible on the day. Rain and bad lights wasted more than 2.5 hours of play. Finally, the day was called off with one hour to go before the original closing time. Mehidy hits 50 as Bangladesh escape fear of inning defeat At the start of the day, Bangladesh were 101 runs behind South Africa, but they ended the day with an 81-run lead despite Kagiso Rabada taking two early wickets, removing both Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mushfqiur Rahim, who were unbeaten overnight. Mehidy remained unbeaten for 87 off 171 balls, while Nayeem Hasan, who came at nine, scored 16. Mushtaq Ahmed, Bangladesh’s spin bowling coach, said they still believe a 200-run is still possible. He insisted that if the players believed, they could achieve it. While Bangladesh are ahead of 81 runs with three wickets in hand, Maharaj, South Africa’s spinner, said they are still in a commanding position in this match. In the first innings of the match, Bangladesh scored 106, in reply, South Africa posted 308, riding on a century of Kyle Verreynne. Taijul Islam bagged five wickets, to complete 200 wickets in Test. Bangladesh played 14 Tests against South Africa but never won a match.

Bangladesh are trailing by 101 runs with seven wickets in hand at the end of day two of the Dhaka Test against South Africa on Tuesday. Riding on a 50-run partnership between Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh ended up on 101 for three. Joy and Mushfqiur Rahim remained unbeaten for 38 and 31, respectively. Kagiso Rabada, who took three in the first innings to reach 300 Tets wickets, took two early wickets in the second innings, removing Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque. Both Shadman and Mominul failed to play the extra bounced deliveries. In the third wicket stand, Joy and Shanto built a partnership of 55 runs, which helped them hold firm and try to build slowly. But Shanto fell Keshav Maharaj. It was a delivery outside off and turning into Shanto's legs. The umpire decided an lbw upon Keshav’s appeal. Shanto did not even bother to appeal for a review. South Africa posted 308 runs in their first innings, with Kyle Verreynne hitting a century that he described as his best innings in Test so far. Dhaka Test: Bangladesh bowled out for 106 as batters falter At the end of day two, Verreynne said the wicket played better than Monday for the batters. But he also added that the wicket may deteriorate as the Test goes ahead. Taijul Islam bagged five-for to reach 200 Test wickets as the second Bangladeshi after Shakib Al Hasan. Bangladesh tumbled for only 106 runs in the first innings. Rabada took three wickets in the first innings, as did Wiaan Mulder and Maharaj. This series is part of the ICC World Test Championship. The winner will carry the points forward to have a better position in the points table. Bangladesh came to this series after a clean sweep against India in a two-match series. However, before the India series, they beat Pakistan in Pakistan.

Bangladesh lost six wickets at the lunch of day one, opting to bat first in the Dhaka Test against South Africa on Monday. At lunch on day one, Mahmudul Hasan Joy was not out for 16, and Bangladesh were at 60 for 6 wickets. Wiaan Mulder, the right-arm pacer, bagged three wickets including the ones of Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto. Shadman Islam failed to form a solid foundation in this match. In the second over of the innings, he fell to Wiaan Mulder without scoring. The right-arm pacer also bagged the wickets of Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto, all fell in the first half hour of the match. Bangladesh lost three wickets for just 21 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim was responsible for guiding the team and building the innings. But he fell by a wonderful delivery from Kagiso Rabada, scoring 11 runs. Read more: Bangladesh bat first in Dhaka Test vs South Africa After them, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz also failed to impress. Mehidy was dismissed by Keshav Maharaj. Bangladesh made three changes to their playing XI that faced India in the Kanpur Test, adding Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Jaker Ali Anik and Nayeem Hasan, replacing Shakib Al Hasan, Zakir Hasan and Khaled Ahmed. Bangladesh never won a Test match against South Africa despite meeting 14 times before this series.