The fans are getting excited once again as Pakistan and South Africa are soon to start the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle by taking on a two-match Test series. The series trophy was launched in Lahore on Saturday with both captains being present in the form of Shan Masood of Pakistan and Aiden Markram of South Africa.
Trophy Unveiling in Lahore
The trophy unveiling ceremony was conducted at the Headquarters of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) where all the two skippers were seen to be very excited and confident in the series.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood indicated that it is highly crucial to start the new WTC circle by ensuring good performances especially at home.
The main goal of any team is to win a Test Championship. All about coming out in a good way and being forced to shine among the best, said Masood in our case.
South African captain Aiden Markram underscored that it is always pleasant to be in Pakistan and to play in harsh conditions of the sub-continent.
It is a daring start of the new cycle. Markram replied We are hoping it is going to be a competitive and enjoyable series.
Pakistan vs South Africa Test Series 2025 Schedule
| Match | Dates | Venue | City |
| 1st Test | October 12–16, 2025 | Gaddafi Stadium | Lahore |
| 2nd Test | October 20–24, 2025 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | Rawalpindi |
After the Tests both teams will also play six white-ball matches — three T20Is and three ODIs — between October 28 and November 8, 2025.
ICC World Test Championship Context
This series marks Pakistan’s first-ever home start to a WTC cycle since the championship began in 2019.
| WTC Cycle | Pakistan’s First Series | Host Country |
| 2019–21 | vs Australia | Away |
| 2021–23 | vs West Indies | Away |
| 2023–25 | vs Sri Lanka | Away |
| 2025–27 | vs South Africa | Home |
The series will help both sides earn early points in the WTC 2025–27 standings.
Pakistan vs South Africa Head-to-Head Record
| Format | Matches Played | Pakistan Wins | South Africa Wins | Draws |
| Tests (Overall) | 30 | 6 | 17 | 7 |
| Tests in Pakistan & UAE | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| WTC Matches | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
The last Test series between the two nations took place in January–February 2021, where Pakistan won 2–0 on home soil.
Pakistan’s Key Players for the Series
| Player | Role | Notable Stats vs South Africa (Tests) |
| Babar Azam | Batter | 315 runs in 4 Tests (4 fifties) |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Wicket-keeper Batter | 283 runs in 4 Tests (1 century) |
| Hasan Ali | Fast Bowler | 12 wickets in 2 Tests |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Fast Bowler | 10+ wickets in 2021 series |
| Shan Masood (C) | Batter | Leading team in WTC 2025–27 cycle |
Pakistan’s 16-Member Test Squad
| Player Name | Role |
| Shan Masood (Captain) | Batter |
| Abdullah Shafique | Batter |
| Abrar Ahmed | Spinner |
| Asif Afridi | All-rounder |
| Babar Azam | Batter |
| Hasan Ali | Fast Bowler |
| Imam-ul-Haq | Batter |
| Kamran Ghulam | Batter |
| Khurram Shahzad | Fast Bowler |
| Mohammad Rizwan (Wicket-keeper) | Batter |
| Noman Ali | Spinner |
| Rohail Nazir (Wicket-keeper) | Batter |
| Sajid Khan | Spinner |
| Salman Ali Agha | All-rounder |
| Saud Shakeel | Batter |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Fast Bowler |
The Pakistan vs South Africa Test Series 2025 will offer high quality cricket, historic matches and the thrill of a new WTC cycle. To Pakistanis, it is a chance to prove something at home; to South Africa it is about preserving their culture of the championship.
The global cricketing community is fully prepared and now all the attention is centered on Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore and the battle starts on October 12, 2025.
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