Pakistan have rolled out spin friendly pitches for the South Africa, replicating conditions in nets and a two day practice match ahead of the Lahore opener.
South Africa Test squad arrives in Lahore for two match Test series
The first group of South Africa’s Test squad arrived in Lahore late Tuesday, with the remaining players and staff scheduled to land on Wednesday morning.
After landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport, the touring party was moved to the team hotel amid tight security arrangements.
Pakistan and South Africa are set to contest a two match Test series, with the opener starting October 12 in Lahore.
The second Test will be staged at Rawalpindi’s Cricket Stadium from October 20.
Team operations, including training schedules and media engagements, are expected to be confirmed following the completion of team arrivals and routine logistics.
The series marks a key early season assignment for both sides, offering Pakistan home advantage and South Africa valuable subcontinental match practice.
Match officials and venue staff have stepped up preparations, including pitch readiness, security coordination, and spectator services ahead of the series opener.
Why this series matters
It launches Pakistan’s ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 campaign and marks South Africa’s first red-ball series in Pakistan since January 2021, when the hosts (Pakistan) won 2–0.
Preparation & timeline
After two days of net sessions in Lahore, the squad shifted to a two-day centre-wicket practice match on Thursday to mirror expected match conditions; the training camp runs through October 8 at Gaddafi Stadium.
Venues & full tour schedule
| Format/Series | Dates | Venue(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | Oct 12–16 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 2nd Test | Oct 20–24 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| T20Is (3) | Oct 28–Nov 1 | Rawalpindi & Lahore |
| ODIs (3) | Nov 4–8 | Faisalabad |
What to expect tactically
Turning, abrasive surfaces should bring spinners to the fore and scrutinise batting technique and strike rotation, while early seam movement may still reward new ball bowlers before spin takes control.
Pakistan squad (announced Sep 30)
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shan Masood (c) | Batsman (captain) |
| Aamir Jamal | All-rounder |
| Abdullah Shafique | Batsman |
| Abrar Ahmed | Spin bowler |
| Asif Afridi | Spin bowler |
| Babar Azam | Batsman |
| Faisal Akram | Spin bowler |
| Hasan Ali | Fast bowler |
| Imam-ul-Haq | Batsman |
| Kamran Ghulam | Batsman |
| Khurram Shahzad | Fast bowler |
| Mohammad Rizwan (wk) | Wicket keeper-batsman |
| Noman Ali | Spin bowler |
| Rohail Nazir (wk) | Wicket keeper-batsman |
| Sajid Khan | Spin bowler |
| Salman Ali Agha | All-rounder |
| Saud Shakeel | Batsman |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Fast bowler |
South Africa squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Aiden Markram (c) | Batsman (captain) |
| David Bedingham | Batsman |
| Corbin Bosch | All-rounder |
| Dewald Brevis | Batsman |
| Tony de Zorzi | Batsman |
| Zubayr Hamza | Batsman |
| Simon Harmer | Spin bowler |
| Marco Jansen | Fast bowler |
| Keshav Maharaj (2nd Test only) | Spin bowler |
| Wiaan Mulder | All-rounder |
| Senuran Muthusamy | All-rounder |
| Kagiso Rabada | Fast bowler |
| Ryan Rickelton | Wicketkeeper-batsman |
| Tristan Stubbs | Batsman |
| Prenelan Subrayen | Spin bowler |
| Kyle Verreynne | Wicket keeper-batsman |
