Pakistan and South Africa Ready for Test Series in Lahore

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi visited Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, engaging with national cricketers as they practiced for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa. The series is set to commence this Sunday.

A video released by the PCB showed Naqvi, along with Director of High-Performance Centre Aqib Javed, meeting with the Pakistan squad, including Captain Shan Masood, and members of the South African team management at the stadium.

The PCB Chairman took time to personally greet spinner Abrar Ahmed, who recently celebrated his wedding in Karachi.

The first Test match is scheduled to take place at Gaddafi Stadium from October 12 to 16. The second will follow at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from October 20 to 24.

This series marks South Africa’s first Test appearance in Pakistan since January 2021, where they were defeated 2-0 by the home team.

Following the Test series, Pakistan and South Africa will compete in a three-match T20I series from October 28 to November 1, with the opening match in Rawalpindi and the subsequent two at Gaddafi Stadium.

The tour will conclude with a three-match ODI series held at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, from November 4 to 8.

Historically, Pakistan and South Africa have clashed 30 times in Test matches. Pakistan has secured victory in six encounters, while South Africa has won 17, with seven matches ending in a draw.

Squads
Pakistan:
  • Shan Masood (C)
  • Abdullah Shafique
  • Abrar Ahmed
  • Asif Afridi
  • Babar Azam
  • Hasan Ali
  • Imam-ul-Haq
  • Kamran Ghulam
  • Khurram Shahzad
  • Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
  • Noman Ali
  • Rohail Nazir (WK)
  • Sajid Khan
  • Salman Ali Agha
  • Saud Shakeel
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi
South Africa:
  • Aiden Markram (c)
  • David Bedingham
  • Corbin Bosch
  • Dewald Brevis
  • Tony de Zorzi
  • Zubayr Hamza
  • Simon Harmer
  • Marco Jansen
  • Keshav Maharaj (second Test only)
  • Wiaan Mulder
  • Senuran Muthusamy
  • Kagiso Rabada
  • Ryan Rickelton
  • Tristan Stubbs
  • Prenelan Subrayen
  • Kyle Verreynne