Pakistan tour of South Africa (2024/25) -Discussion Thread

[MenInG]

Lahore, 3 May 2024: The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced details of its tour to South Africa for three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests in the second half of 2024.

Durban, Centurion, and Johannesburg will host the T20Is from 10-14 December. The ODIs will be played from 17-22 December in Paarl, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, while the two ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 matches will be held at Centurion (26-30 December) and Cape Town (3-7 January).

The side will depart for Durban on 2 December after returning from Australia on 19 November, having featured in a series of three ODIs and three T20Is from 4-18 November. After completing their African safari on 8 January, the national side will take on New Zealand and South Africa in a three-nation ODI tournament on home turf, which will be followed by the eight-team ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.

Prior to the tours of Australia and South Africa, Pakistan will host Bangladesh and England for two and three Tests, respectively. This means they will play seven Tests, minimum of 10 ODIs, and six T20Is in the six-month period from August 2024 to January 2025.

This will be Pakistan’s seventh Test tour of South Africa since 1994-95. Their two Test wins were in the 1997-98 and 2006-2007 series. In the Durban Test in 1997-98, Pakistan won by 29 runs at the back of centuries from Azhar Mahmood (132) and Saeed Anwar (118), match figures of nine for 149 by Mushtaq Ahmed and a first innings five-fer by Shoaib Akhtar. In the 2006-2007 Port Elizabeth Test, Pakistan won by five wickets with Inzamam-ul-Haq being named as Player of the Match for his 92 in the first innings.

In ODIs, Pakistan has won two of the last three series in 2013-2014 and 2020-21, while South Africa triumphed in 2002-2003 (4-1), 2006-2007 (3-1), 2012-2013 (3-2), and 2018-2019 (3-2).

In 12 T20Is to date, Pakistan leads 6-5 in head-to-head encounters, with one match ending in no-result.

Tour schedule

10 Dec – 1st T20I, Durban

13 Dec – 2nd T20I, Centurion

14 Dec – 3rd T20I, Johannesburg

17 Dec – 1st ODI, Paarl

19 Dec – 2nd ODI, Cape Town

22 Dec – 3rd ODI, Johannesburg

26-30 Dec – 1st Test, Centurion

3-7 Jan – 2nd Test, Cape Town

 

[Rana]

2 Tests only

Joke

 

[MenInG]

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has today revealed an exciting schedule for the 2024/25 international home season.

The Proteas Men will take on Sri Lanka in two Tests and Pakistan in an all-format tour, while the Proteas Women are set to host England for a multi-format tour.

CSA CEO, Pholetsi Moseki commented: “As we eagerly anticipate the 2024/25 home international season, it once again holds the promise of exhilarating encounters.

“As we open our doors to esteemed cricketing nations like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and England, we not only showcase the talent and competitiveness of South African cricket but also celebrate the global appeal and camaraderie inherent in our beloved sport.

“These fixtures serve as a platform to not just compete, but to foster bonds between nations, uniting players and fans alike in the shared love for cricket,” he concluded.

 

[BouncerGuy]

2 Tests only

Joke

Test cricket was never the priority for them in recent times. Remember the squad they sent to new Zealand?

T20 cricket is taking over this sport too fast.

 

[Rana]

Test cricket was never the priority for them in recent times. Remember the squad they sent to new Zealand?

T20 cricket is taking over this sport too fast.

But it’s a home Test series for them this time. They won’t want to lose to this Pakistan side.

 

[BouncerGuy]

But it’s a home Test series for them this time. They won’t want to lose to this Pakistan side.

They might have a better squad for this tour considering there is no IPL or any other league going around. But still, 2 tests are not enough, should be at leat 3 or 4.

 

[Rana]

They might have a better squad for this tour considering there is no IPL or any other league going around. But still, 2 tests are not enough, should be at leat 3 or 4.

Imagine facing Nandre Burger on those decks for 4 Tests? Our players will be in hospitals by the end of the tour

 

[adi_62941]

Disappointed to see only 2 test matches. WE always played 3 test series in SAF. But i think now no SENA country is interested in playing more than 2 test match series against Pakistan because of lack of quality our test side produce and no competetion

 

[mazkhan]

Expect some serious chitar on these pitches , won't see our batting holding up on these wickets and the quicks they have .

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Disappointed to see only 2 test matches. WE always played 3 test series in SAF. But i think now no SENA country is interested in playing more than 2 test match series against Pakistan because of lack of quality our test side produce and no competetion

Test cricket is finished in South Africa. The fans don't care about it at all. They only want white ball cricket.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Test cricket was never the priority for them in recent times. Remember the squad they sent to new Zealand?

T20 cricket is taking over this sport too fast.

It's easy to just blame them...Do you think it's a priority for us?

 

[BouncerGuy]

It's easy to just blame them...Do you think it's a priority for us?

We never sent d-team on any tour so yeah. There is a difference between them and us.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

We never sent d-team on any tour so yeah. There is a difference between them and us.

Our test A team is a D team.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pakistan can finally win a Test once again in South Africa. Shaheen and Naseem can probably win the series as well.

South Africa are a nothing side in this format now.

 

[adi_62941]

Test cricket is finished in South Africa. The fans don't care about it at all. They only want white ball cricket.

SAF is a blockbuster side in ODI and T20s but very weak in test matches despite having good quality players. Once they used to be the best cricketing sides in the world during smith captaincy period.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Only 2 Tests? It irks me

 

[Vikram1989]

2 Tests only

Joke

Sa cricket board assured all players will be available for the sa t20 league franchises which starts after the test series. So sa trimmed the test series length to 2 for all the opponents including india.even in t20s and odis ,u will see half of the random people and a dummy side But test will have some regulars atleast.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

get ready for the most bouncy tour guys...

Hopefully Pak team can reapeat what they did in 2013 in South Africa.

 

[cricketmania22]

SA is moving away from Tests. They don’t make money playing tests. Recently they sent their C team to NZ tour. it’s a shame because since their comeback in 1992 they have been one of the most exciting test teams.

 

[Slim]

2 Tests? This is ridiculous. We need to play at least 3 test series. And try for 4 test series. I know t20Is make more money, but nothing beats following a test match.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

2 Tests? This is ridiculous. We need to play at least 3 test series. And try for 4 test series. I know t20Is make more money, but nothing beats following a test match.

Even a two test series would have been enough... if they had played four, Pakistan will surely loose the series 4-0

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Two test is a farce...even india had two tests in 2024 series-pathetic ....what a waste...

 

[BouncerGuy]

KLAASEN TO LEAD PROTEAS IN KFC T20I SERIES AGAINST PAKISTAN

Wednesday, 04 December 2024

JOHANNESBURG: White-ball head coach Rob Walter has today announced a 15-player squad for the three-match KFC T20 International (T20I) series against Pakistan, scheduled from 10 – 14 December.

Heinrich Klaasen will captain the side in the absence of Aiden Markram, who is currently involved in the Test series against Sri Lanka.

Markram, along with all-format players Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Tristan Stubbs, will miss the T20I series due to the quick turnaround between the two series. They will return for the One-Day International series against Pakistan in preparation for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy.

Dafabet Warriors fast bowler Anrich Nortje and Momentum Multiply Titans spinner Tabraiz Shamsi return to the T20I side for the first time since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in June.

World Sports Betting Western Province all-rounder George Linde has also been named in the squad, marking his return to the T20I set-up after last playing in July 2021 against Ireland. The 33-year-old, who has 14 T20I caps, had an impressive run in this season’s CSA T20 Challenge, amassing 171 runs at a strike-rate of 178.12 and claiming nine wickets at an average of 18.33.

The squad will begin preparations with a two-day camp at the Centre of Excellence in Pretoria from 06 – 08 December, before heading to Durban on Sunday, 08 December. The first match will take place at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Tuesday, 10 December, followed by back-to-back games at SuperSport Park, Centurion and the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on 13 and 14 December respectively.

Commenting on the squad, Walter said: “All 15 players are capped, and we’re looking to build on the experience within the group as we continue to grow as a unit.

“In the absence of Aiden, Heinrich will lead the team. He is a vastly experienced player with a strong understanding and reading of the game. We look forward to utilising him in this role after his previous experiences in 2021.

"We have also given George an opportunity again. He really earned his spot off the back of a strong domestic campaign, and his skills as a spinning all-rounder add important balance to the team.

"We're pleased to have Anrich and Tabraiz back in the squad. Their wealth of experience and skill significantly bolsters our bowling unit, enhancing both our pace and spin departments, which will be key against a strong Pakistan side.”

Proteas T20I Squad against Pakistan

Heinrich Klaasen (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Ottneil Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Matthew Breetzke* (Dafabet Warriors), Donovan Ferreira (Momentum Multiply Titans), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Patrick Kruger (Dafabet Warriors), George Linde (World Sports Betting Western Province), Kwena Maphaka* (DP World Lions), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Nqaba Peter (DP World Lions), Ryan Rickelton* (DP World Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi** (Momentum Multiply Titans), Andile Simelane (Hollywoodbets Dolphins) and Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions).

*Matthew Breetzke, Kwena Maphaka and Ryan Rickelton are set to join the squad following their Test commitments against Sri Lanka.

** Tabraiz Shamsi's participation in the ongoing Global Super League in Guyana may affect his availability for the 1st T20I.

KFC T20I Series

Tuesday, 10 December at 18:00
Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban

Friday, 13 December at 18:00
SuperSport Park, Centurion

Saturday, 14 December at 18:00
DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg