Key points
- South Africa aims to upset hosts’ momentum
- Faisalabad’s revival highlights Pakistan’s cricket growth
- November series crucial for both teams’ preparations
ISLAMABAD: International cricket makes a welcome return to Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad after a 17-year hiatus, as Pakistan national cricket team and South Africa national cricket team gear up for the opening match of their three-game One Day International series on Tuesday, 4 November 2025.
The historic venue in Faisalabad will host all three ODIs of the series, scheduled for 4, 6, and 8 November. Pakistan have a strong recent record at this ground: out of 12 previous ODIs they have played here, they have won nine and lost three. On the other hand, South Africa have played five matches here, winning two and losing three.
In overall head-to-head One Day International history, Pakistan and South Africa have clashed on 87 occasions, of which South Africa have drawn ahead with 52 wins against Pakistan’s 34. For matches specifically at Faisalabad, of the three played previously between these two sides, Pakistan have won twice (in 1994 and 2007) while South Africa claimed one victory (in 2003).
Local crowd support
With home conditions once again in their favour, Pakistan will be hoping to leverage their familiarity with the ground and local crowd support. For South Africa, the series opener is a chance to silence the local sentiment, upset the hosts, and build early momentum in unfamiliar conditions.
The overall fixture is not just about the game on the field but also about the revival of international cricket in Faisalabad — reflecting the broader push by the Pakistan Cricket Board and the cricketing community in Pakistan to bring more high-profile matches back to venues outside the major cities.
As both teams finalise their squads and preparations ahead of the 3 pm local (Pakistan) start time, fans and analysts will be keen to see which side adapts faster to the pitch and conditions, and sets the tone for the rest of the series.
Squads:
Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha.
South Africa: Matthew Breetzke (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Sinethemba Qeshile.
