South Africa tour of Pakistan (2025)

[Ball Blazer]

Pakistan’s new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 will begin on 12 October, when they host the 2023-25 ICC World Test Champions South Africa for a two Test-match series. The first Test will be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from 12 to 16 October, which will also be the first five-day match at the stadium since it’s complete renovation earlier this year to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The second Test match is scheduled to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 20 to 24 October. This will be South Africa’s first Test tour to Pakistan since January 2021, when they lost a two-Test match series 2-0 to the hosts.

At the conclusion of the red-ball matches, both sides will feature in three T20Is from 28 October to 1 November, with first T20I taking place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, while the remaining two T20Is will be hosted at the Gaddafi Stadium. The series will conclude with three ODIs taking place from 4 to 8 November at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. This will be the first ODI at the stadium in 17 years, with Pakistan having beaten Bangladesh by seven wickets at the venue on 11 April, 2008.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed:

“We are looking forward to welcome South Africa for the opening series of our ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign. Starting the new cycle against the current Test champions will provide quality cricket for our players and fans.

“The return of ODI cricket to Faisalabad after 17 years is a special moment. Iqbal Stadium holds a proud place in our cricketing history and we are excited to bring international cricket back to this part of the country.”

South Africa tour to Pakistan

12-16 October – First Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

20-24 October – Second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

28 October – First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

31 October – Second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

1 November – Third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

4 November – First ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

6 November – Second ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

8 November – Third ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

 

[BouncerGuy]

Finally we will get to see lord Shan batting again.

 

[Markhor]

A rare all-format tour which is good to see. Not a fan of segmented tours which has become commonplace.

 

[sweep_shot]

This should be a good tour.

A complete series --> 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20s.

 

[Vikram1989]

A rare all-format tour which is good to see. Not a fan of segmented tours which has become commonplace.

I will be happy with segmented tours.am not sure where u live( in pak or outside of pak).as per my experience in aus , all 3 formats will happen in same ground say Sydney/Melbourne. We cant spend high amount both for a test match and one of limited formats .it will force any one to settle for one match .As kids will prefer a t20 than a test match, at the end we have to settle for t20 even though its not ur cup of tea.if its a segmented tour, it will give a chance to view both formats with out much stress .

 

[sweep_shot]

Pakistan should win the Test series 2-0 if they give turning tracks.

ODI and T20 can go either way.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

3 ODIs in the middle of smog month in the middle of the smog capital (central Punjab).

Bravo.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Karachi rightly sidelined

 

[Vikram1989]

Will hesson agree to the industrial fans? Sa have better spinners and batsmen too.Pak can go for the slow paced pitches if not turners/flat tracks .Markram will kill the attack if its flat track.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

If I'm in Pakistan next month I will definitely go to GSL to watch the first test.

Always wanted to see a test match there but never got the chance to. I hope people turn up because the last test that was held there (v Australia in 2022) had a fairly disappointing turnout.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

3 ODIs in the middle of smog month in the middle of the smog capital (central Punjab).

Bravo.

Peak smog season in Punjab is around December-January

Things are pretty okay in October

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

If Pakistan prepare the same pitches they prepared in the England series (excluding first test) last year then they will be very hard to beat. South Africa are one of the weakest teams against spin-bowling. And eventhough they have an elite spinner in Maharaj, he will more than likely be carrying the load on such pitches and bowling a large quota of overs which would theoretically reduce his effectiveness. South Africa's other spin options are pretty hopeless. It will more than likely be an all-rounder like Linde or Mutusamy partnering with him.

That said, preparing lottery pitches is not the answer. On those pitches any team can win as Pakistan saw in the series against West Indies last year.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Lovely to see cricket back in Faisalabad.