SA vs PAK 2025/26: Results, Schedule, Head-to-Head

Pakistan’s cricketing rivalry with South Africa took a new turn in late 2025, as the Proteas made their first red-ball visit since 2021 — when Babar Azam’s side handed them a 2-0 defeat. This time, the script flipped twice: Pakistan won the first Test by 93 runs, then South Africa hit back with an 8-wicket victory in Rawalpindi. By the end of the tour, Pakistan had claimed the multi-format series 4-2, adding fuel to an already spicy head-to-head narrative.

Tests: 2 · ODIs: 3 · 1st Test Date: Oct 12-15, 2025 · Recent Result: SA won by 8 wkts (PAK 333 & 138, SA 404 & 73/2) · Venues: Lahore, Rawalpindi

Is Pakistan out of the semi finals?

Heading into the South Africa tour, Pakistan had just missed the T20 World Cup semi-finals despite beating Sri Lanka in their final group match. The Sri Lanka result did not matter — New Zealand had already locked the second semi-final spot from Group 1, leaving Pakistan to process a familiar frustration. The PCB confirmed fixtures in September 2025, giving the team a narrow window to regroup before the Tests began.

The timing of the SA tour created an interesting dynamic: Pakistan needed to shift mental gears from white-ball to red-ball cricket almost immediately. South Africa, meanwhile, arrived as the touring side with their own questions to answer on Pakistani soil.

T20 World Cup context

The Pakistan cricket team’s T20 World Cup campaign ended without a semi-final place, even after winning their last group match against Sri Lanka. Pakistan finished third in Group 1 behind India and New Zealand. The loss to New Zealand in the group stage proved decisive.

Impact on SA vs PAK tour

The South Africa tour came immediately after the T20 World Cup disappointment, giving Pakistan little time to reset mentally. The Tests in Lahore and Rawalpindi became a pressure-release valve — a chance to refocus on longer formats where the team had historically performed better at home.

Where can I watch SA vs PAK T20?

The 2025/26 SA tour of Pakistan included three T20Is spread across late October and early November. Live scores were available through ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, and Sky Sports, with match timings set according to local Pakistani conditions.

Live streaming options

Match timings for the T20Is included a 7:00 PM PKT start for evening games and afternoon starts for day-night matches. Viewers could follow scores through the official PCB website or third-party aggregators like Cricbuzz and ESPNcricinfo, which offered ball-by-ball commentary alongside scorecards.

Upcoming formats

After the T20I series concluded on November 1, the action shifted to three ODIs at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, beginning November 4. The ODI leg gave fans another chance to track both teams before major ICC events.

Who won more, Pak or NZ?

Head-to-head records show Pakistan has maintained a competitive edge over New Zealand in recent years, though the two teams operate in different cricketing contexts. The more relevant comparison for this tour is how Pakistan stacked up against South Africa specifically.

Pakistan vs NZ records

Pakistan’s record against New Zealand includes several memorable Test matches and white-ball encounters. However, for the 2025/26 cycle, the PCB prioritized building match fitness against South Africa, a traditional tough opponent on Pakistani pitches.

Relevance to SA matchup

The SA vs PAK series held greater strategic weight than any NZ comparison because it was part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle. Every result counted toward points that could determine the final standings, making each match format more consequential than a standard bilateral.

SA vs PAK Schedule and Fixtures

The tour opened with the 1st Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on October 12, 2025, with toss scheduled for 10:00 AM IST and first ball at 10:30 AM IST. Five days later, the action moved to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for the 2nd Test on October 20.

Test matches

The two-Test series began at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore from October 12-15, 2025. Pakistan batted first, posting 378 and 167, while South Africa managed 269 and 183 — giving Pakistan a 93-run victory. Tony de Zorzi top-scored with 104 in South Africa’s first innings, and Salman Ali Agha responded with 93 for Pakistan. Noman Ali took 6/112 for the hosts.

The second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from October 20, 2025 saw a dramatic reversal. Pakistan managed only 333 and 138, while South Africa chased 404 in their first innings before reaching 73/2 to win by 8 wickets. Dewald Brevis scored 54 in South Africa’s second innings, and Babar Azam managed 42 for Pakistan. Senuran Muthusamy claimed 5/57 in the innings that clinched the win for South Africa, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking 4/33 for Pakistan.

ODI series

The three-match ODI series began at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on November 4, 2025. Pakistan won the first ODI by 2 wickets after chasing 264/8, while South Africa had posted 263. Salman Ali Agha scored 62 and Quinton de Kock made 63 in that match. The second ODI saw South Africa win by 8 wickets, chasing 270/2 after Pakistan posted 269/9. Corbin Bosch took 2/32 for South Africa.

The decisive third ODI on November 8, 2025 went Pakistan’s way by 7 wickets. South Africa was bundled out for 143, and Pakistan chased 144/3. Saim Ayub scored 77, Naseem Shah took 3/40, and Abrar Ahmed finished with 4/27 to seal the 2-1 series win.

Recent Results and Head-to-Head

The last time South Africa toured Pakistan for Tests was 2021, when Babar Azam’s side completed a 2-0 whitewash. The 2025 return was supposed to test whether that dominance still held — and the answer came back mixed. South Africa’s 8-wicket win in Rawalpindi showed they had closed the gap considerably.

Latest scorecard

The 2nd Test at Rawalpindi produced the most decisive result of the series. Pakistan’s 333 and 138 looked competitive until South Africa’s Tony de Zorzi and Dewald Brevis delivered the runs that turned the match. Senuran Muthusamy’s 5/57 in the second innings sealed the result before the declaration.

The 3rd T20I at Gaddafi Stadium on November 1, 2025 saw Pakistan chase 140/6 after South Africa posted 139/9, winning by 4 wickets. That result gave Pakistan a 2-1 T20I series win.

Historical wins

Since 2017, Pakistan holds 23 wins in 43 completed matches against South Africa across formats. Pakistan averages 266.8 runs per match while South Africa averages 278.2. When batting first, Pakistan has won 18 matches compared to South Africa’s 17 — suggesting near-parity on who controls the tempo first.

The pattern across eight matches shows both teams trading victories across formats, with Pakistan’s white-ball units proving more reliable when it mattered most.

Standout Individual Performances

Several players defined the series with key contributions that shifted individual match outcomes. Salman Ali Agha topped Pakistan’s batting charts with 93 in the 1st Test and 62 in the 1st ODI — making him the most consistent Pakistani across formats. Tony de Zorzi’s 104 in the 1st Test innings gave South Africa a platform they nearly held onto, while Quinton de Kock’s 63 and 53 in the ODIs reminded audiences why he remains central to South Africa’s white-ball plans.

On the bowling front, Senuran Muthusamy took 6/117 in the 1st Test and 5/57 in the 2nd Test — a match-winning return that justified South Africa’s selection gamble. Noman Ali’s 6/112 in the same 1st Test kept Pakistan competitive. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 4/33 in the 2nd Test showed his ability to swing momentum even in a losing cause. In the ODIs, Abrar Ahmed’s 4/27 in the decider sealed Pakistan’s series win.

Match Timeline

The tour ran from October 11 to November 8, 2025 — a 28-day window covering three formats across three venues. The schedule allowed minimal rest between formats: Tests concluded in mid-October, T20Is filled the final week of October, and ODIs ran through the first week of November.

The compressed timeline worked against South Africa more than Pakistan, who used home conditions and squad continuity to stay competitive throughout the tour.

Series Quotes

The Proteas are returning to Pakistani soil for a red-ball series for the first time since 2021, when Pakistan had handed them a comprehensive 2-0 defeat under the leadership of Babar Azam.

— Times of India

Pakistan is all set to begin its ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 journey with a two-match Test series against South Africa.

— Wikipedia cricket records

Summary

South Africa’s 2025 tour of Pakistan produced eight compelling matches across three formats, ending with Pakistan claiming the multi-format series 4-2. The Tests split 1-1 — Pakistan winning at Gaddafi Stadium by 93 runs, South Africa replying with an 8-wicket win in Rawalpindi — while Pakistan’s white-ball units proved sharper in the T20I and ODI legs. Key performers like Salman Ali Agha, Senuran Muthusamy, Tony de Zorzi, and Quinton de Kock gave the series its individual character. The series confirmed Pakistan’s home strength while showing South Africa has narrowed the gap since their 2021 defeat.

South Africa’s Rawalpindi victory proved they can win in Pakistan — but their inability to close out the white-ball legs means the 2021 ghosts haven’t fully faded. Pakistan’s series win restores confidence ahead of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship run-in, even as questions linger about their T20 World Cup semi-final drought.

Related reading: England vs South Africa head-to-head

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