PAK vs SA, 2025: Pakistan vs South Africa, 1st Test Match Preview

Published - 11 Oct 2025, 10:55 IST | Updated - 11 Oct 2025, 11:32 IST

Pakistan is all set to kickstart its ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 campaign with a two-match Test series against South Africa, beginning on Sunday, October 12, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This series also records the start of South Africa’s all-format tour of Pakistan, which will feature three ODIs and three T20Is after the Tests.

South Africa will be touring Pakistan for the first time since 2021, which ended with the home team winning by a 2-0 margin. For Pakistan, it is their first red-ball outing since January. Shann Masood, who continues to lead the team, will rely on senior players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi to strike early in the WTC cycle.

On the other hand, defending WTC champions South Africa will be without full-time skipper Temba Bavuma, who has been ruled out due to a calf strain, with Aiden Markram set to lead in his absence. Spinner Keshav Maharaj will also miss the first Test.

Gaddafi Stadium has hosted 41 Tests so far, with several ending in draws due to flat batting decks. Teams batting second have enjoyed more success, winning 15 matches compared to just four for teams batting first. Despite its batting-friendly nature, bowlers have occasionally dominated, especially spinners and reverse-swing pacers during the final sessions of a Test match.

⁠Shan Masood (c), Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, Abrar Ahmed

Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer