Pakistan and South Africa open their ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 campaigns today (Oct. 12) at Gaddafi Stadium, with the first ball due at 10:00 am local time.
It’s South Africa’s first red-ball visit since 2021 and the start of their WTC title defence.
Selection picture: Sajid Khan cleared, Asif Afridi’s debut on hold
Pakistan’s spin plans settled as Sajid Khan cleared a fitness test after a viral fever scare, pushing Asif Afridi’s much-anticipated debut to the bench for now.
In addition, Pakistan are expected to field seven batters, two quicks and two spinners, with Noman Ali complementing Sajid on a surface likely to assist slow bowling as the game will enter day 3rd.
Moreover, Shaheen Shah Afridi is poised to lead the pace attack with Hasan Ali.
South Africa are without captain Temba Bavuma and frontline spinner Keshav Maharaj for Lahore.
Therefore Aiden Markram will lead the side and Simon Harmer/Senuran Muthusamy in the spin frame alongside Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.
Conditions & tactics: home spin advantage vs Proteas’ preparation
Proteas stand-in skipper Aiden Markram has framed Pakistan’s right to prepare spin leaning surfaces as fair home advantage, noting his side trained specifically for turn and lower bounce.
Pakistan’s staff, meanwhile, have indicated the pitch should quicken and take more turn gradually, raising the premium on first-innings runs and disciplined spin later in the match.
Whereas, there is no forecast conditions at the playing venue, air remains hot and dry with no rain forecast.
What it means: fresh cycle, early points, and eyes on Rawalpindi
With just two Tests in this series (Rawalpindi follows on Oct. 20), the series offers a compact but high impact route to early WTC points.
For Pakistan, a front foot result at home would settle combinations and validate a two spinner strategy.
Similarly, for South Africa, a positive start away from home would underline the depth of a champion side adapting without Bavuma and Maharaj.
Probable XI’s (subject to toss/conditions)
Pakistan Test Squad: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan.
South Africa Test Squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer, Senuran Muthusamy.
Fixture: Oct. 12–16, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; first ball 10:00 am PKT.
