Lahore, October 15, 2025: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday praised the national team for their emphatic 93-run victory over defending champions South Africa in the opening Test of the two-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
In a statement issued by the PCB following the match, Naqvi congratulated the players and team management for what he described as a “remarkable” start to Pakistan’s ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 campaign.
“Pakistan has achieved a remarkable victory against the World Test Champion team, and this success is the result of teamwork and outstanding performances in all departments,” Naqvi said.
“Congratulations to the captain, players, and team management on this achievement. I hope the team continues this consistency in the second Test as well,” he added.
Shan Masood reflects on team’s resilience
Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood, speaking after the match, credited his team’s composure and discipline for overcoming South Africa’s spirited resistance on a challenging surface.
“There were a lot of challenges out in the middle. Credit to South Africa – they kept coming back, but we built enough margins to have the upper hand and I’m glad we finished it off,” Masood said during the post-match presentation.
The left-handed opener highlighted Pakistan’s balanced bowling approach, which combined spin dominance with timely bursts of reverse swing.
“Historically, we have always played on such surfaces. Even when we have gone spin-heavy, we included a seamer or two because we want reverse swing to come into play. Test cricket is a collective effort. Sajid was unlucky with his injury, and Noman is Noman,” he remarked, acknowledging the key role played by Noman Ali, who claimed a 10-wicket match haul.
Masood described the victory as a morale booster and a statement of intent at the beginning of Pakistan’s new WTC cycle.
“There are a lot of positives to draw from this game. It is a great opportunity to play against the team that won the WTC, and we closed it out with a win today. Now, we look forward to the next one,” he concluded.
Pakistan took a 1–0 series lead after successfully defending a target of 277, dismissing South Africa for 183 in their second innings. The win marked a strong start to their home season and reaffirmed Pakistan’s dominance at the Gaddafi Stadium, where they remain unbeaten in Tests since 2021.
