PCB reveals schedule for all-format series against South Africa

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the schedule for the all-format home series against South Africa.

Pakistan’s first match of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 will begin on 12 October, when they host defending champions South Africa at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Notably, this will be the first five-day match at the stadium since it’s complete renovation earlier this year to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The second Test match is scheduled to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 20 to 24 October.

This will be South Africa’s first Test tour to Pakistan since January 2021, when they lost a two-Test match series 2-0 to the hosts.

After the Tests, the focus will shift to white-ball cricket. Both sides will feature in three T20Is from 28 October to 1 November, with the first T20I taking place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, while the remaining two T20Is will be hosted at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The series will conclude with three ODIs taking place from 4 to 8 November at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

This will be the first ODI at the stadium in 17 years, with Pakistan having beaten Bangladesh by seven wickets at the venue on 11 April 2008.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed:

“We are looking forward to welcome South Africa for the opening series of our ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign. Starting the new cycle against the current Test champions will provide quality cricket for our players and fans.

“The return of ODI cricket to Faisalabad after 17 years is a special moment. Iqbal Stadium holds a proud place in our cricketing history and we are excited to bring international cricket back to this part of the country.”

Schedule of Pakistan-South Africa series

• 12-16 October – First Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 20-24 October – Second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
• 28 October – First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
• 31 October – Second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 1 November – Third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 4 November – First ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
• 6 November – Second ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
• 8 November – Third ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

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