South Africa to play Test, T20I, ODI series in Pakistan later this year

Pakistan will host South Africa to play Test, One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International series in the country later this year, in October and November.

Out of the eight matches between the cricket teams — two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is — none would be played in Karachi, much to the disappointment of the cricket fans here.

Pakistan will kick off its new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 as well on October 12, as they host the 2023-25 ICC World Test Champions South Africa for a two Test-match series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a press release on Saturday.

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The first Test will be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from October 12 to 16, which will also be the first five-day match at the stadium since its 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 October 20 to 24. 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 October 28 to November 1, 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 Pakistan were looking forward to welcome South Africa for the opening series of their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign.

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“Starting the new cycle against the current Test champions will provide quality cricket for our players and fans,” he said.

Whereas, he said, 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

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

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

• October 28 – First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

• October 31 – Second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

• November 1 – Third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

• November 4 – First ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

• November 6 – Second ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

• November 8 – Third ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad