ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has crafted spin-friendly pitches to test South Africa’s batting skills in the two-match Test series starting October 12 in Lahore.
PCB officials reveal that conditions have been deliberately designed to favour Pakistan’s spinners, setting a challenging stage for the touring Proteas.
The national squad is currently engaged in practice matches on similar surfaces at Gaddafi Stadium to acclimatise ahead of the first Test. Following two days of intense net sessions, players began a two-day practice match on Thursday to simulate real match conditions. The training camp, which commenced last week, will continue until October 8.
This series also marks the beginning of Pakistan’s campaign in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 and South Africa’s return for their first red-ball series in Pakistan since January 2021, when they were whitewashed 2-0.
The opening Test will take place at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from October 12 to 16, followed by the second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from October 20 to 24.
After the Tests, both teams will face off in a three-match T20 International series from October 28 to November 1 in Rawalpindi and Lahore, concluding with a three-match ODI series in Faisalabad from November 4 to 8.
Pakistan Squad:
Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
South Africa Squad:
Aiden Markram (captain), 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.
