South Africa to open WTC 2025-27 campaign against Pakistan in Lahore

Lahore, 6 September 2025:

The Gaddafi Stadium will host its first Test in more than three years when South Africa begins its World Test Championship title defense against Pakistan on Oct. 12.

The game will mark Lahore’s second Test since red-ball cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019, and the first since the venue was rebuilt ahead of this year’s Champions Trophy. The second Test of the two-match series is scheduled for Oct. 20-24 in Rawalpindi, which also underwent renovation work last year.

The series will be the first of the new two-year WTC cycle for both teams. South Africa last played a Test in June, when it won the championship final.

The tour also includes three Twenty20s and three one-day internationals. Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium, which has not staged international cricket in 17 years, will host all three ODIs from Nov. 4-8. Faisalabad had been due to stage two T20s against Bangladesh in May, but those games were scrapped because of a scheduling reshuffle.

The T20s will start Oct. 28 in Rawalpindi, with the remaining two in Lahore on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

It will be South Africa’s first Test series in Pakistan with full crowds since international cricket resumed in the country. The Proteas toured in 2021, but the games were played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are looking forward to welcoming South Africa for the opening series of our ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign,” Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed said. “Starting the new cycle against the current Test champions will provide quality cricket for our players and fans.”

Schedule

Oct. 12-16: First Test, Lahore

Oct. 20-24: Second Test, Rawalpindi

Oct. 28: First T20, Rawalpindi

Oct. 31: Second T20, Lahore

Nov. 1: Third T20, Lahore

Nov. 4: First ODI, Faisalabad

Nov. 6: Second ODI, Faisalabad

Nov. 8: Third ODI, Faisalabad