Pakistan to Kick Off New ICC World Test Championship Cycle with Exciting Home Series Against South Africa
Pakistan is set to commence a thrilling home series against South Africa, kicking off the new ICC World Test Championship 2025-27. The first Test will take place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore starting on October 12, 2025, while the second Test will be held at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from October 20-24, 2025.
Series Overview
This Test series marks the beginning of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle for the Pakistan Men’s team. Pakistan will aim to make a strong start against South Africa, the defending champions of the previous cycle. Notably, this is the first time since the ICC World Test Championship’s inception in 2019 that Pakistan will host the opening series of a WTC cycle.
Historical Context
Pakistan has played 30 Test matches against South Africa, securing six wins. In these encounters, South Africa has emerged victorious 17 times, with seven matches resulting in draws. The two teams have faced each other in four Test matches under the ICC World Test Championship, each side winning two.
Previous Encounters
- 2021: South Africa toured Pakistan, resulting in a 2-0 victory for Pakistan.
- In prior WTC cycles, Pakistan began their campaigns away—Australia in 2019-21, West Indies in 2021-23, and Sri Lanka in 2023-25.
Player Highlights
Key players for Pakistan include:
- Babar Azam: 315 runs in four Tests against South Africa.
- Mohammad Rizwan: 283 runs, including one century.
- Hasan Ali: 12 wickets across two WTC matches against South Africa.
All three players are included in Pakistan’s 16-member squad for the series.
Squad Announcement
Pakistan’s squad features the following players:
- Shan Masood (captain)
- Abdullah Shafique
- Abrar Ahmed
- Asif Afridi
- Babar Azam
- Hasan Ali
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Kamran Ghulam
- Khurram Shahzad
- Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper)
- Noman Ali
- Rohail Nazir (wicket-keeper)
- Sajid Khan
- Salman Ali Agha
- Saud Shakeel
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
Series Schedule
The upcoming series is as follows:
| Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
| October 12-16 | First Test – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| October 20-24 | Second Test – Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| October 28 | First T20I – Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| October 31 | Second T20I – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| November 1 | Third T20I – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| November 4 | First ODI – Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad |
| November 6 | Second ODI – Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad |
| November 8 | Third ODI – Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad |
Captains’ Remarks
Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood, emphasized the importance of starting strong at home. “It’s vital to establish a winning culture in home conditions,” he stated. On the other hand, South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, expressed excitement for the challenge ahead. “It’s a unique challenge to adapt to the conditions here,” he remarked.
This series promises to be a significant event as both teams look to establish their dominance in the new ICC World Test Championship cycle.
