Lahore, October 3, 2025: Pakistan have prepared spin-friendly pitches to test South Africa in the upcoming two-match Test series, starting October 12 at the Gaddafi Stadium.
According to sources, curators have designed conditions to favour spinners, with the touring Proteas expected to face a stern examination of their batting technique. The national squad has been training on similar surfaces, holding practice matches in Lahore to adapt ahead of the opener.
After two days of net sessions, the players began a two-day intra-squad match on Thursday to simulate game scenarios. The training camp, which opened last week, will run until October 8.
The series marks the start of Pakistan’s ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 campaign and also South Africa’s first red-ball assignment in the country since January 2021, when the visitors lost 2-0.
On September 30, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled a squad featuring three uncapped players — pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir, and left-arm spinner Faisal Akram.
The first Test will be played in Lahore from October 12–16, followed by the second Test in Rawalpindi from October 20–24. The tour will continue with three T20Is (October 28–November 1) in Rawalpindi and Lahore, and a three-match ODI series in Faisalabad from November 4–8.
