Pakistan is set to host South Africa in a blockbuster all-format series beginning in October 2025, with Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad lined up as host venues. The tour will open with two Test matches, forming part of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship, followed by a three-match T20I series and concluding with three ODIs.
The Test series will set the tone, with the opening match scheduled from October 12 to 16 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. The venue, freshly modernized ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, will once again welcome the traditional five-day format after years of limited use. The second Test will run from October 20 to 24 at Rawalpindi, a ground that has become a reliable hub for red-ball cricket in Pakistan. These matches carry added significance as they launch Pakistan’s World Test Championship campaign against one of the most competitive sides in the format.
Once the whites are folded away, the tour moves to the excitement of T20 internationals. The first T20I is set for October 28 in Rawalpindi, with the action then shifting to Lahore for back-to-back games on October 31 and November 1. With both sides preparing for next year’s T20 World Cup, these fixtures will be treated as crucial tune-ups, giving selectors and team managements a chance to test depth and flexibility in their squads.
The ODI leg will cap off the tour in Faisalabad, marking a historic return for the Iqbal Stadium, which last hosted a one-day international in 2008. The three matches are slated for November 4, 6, and 8, and they promise to generate massive local excitement in a region with a deep-rooted love for the game. For Pakistan, these ODIs also double as part of their long-term planning towards the 2027 World Cup, while South Africa will see them as vital away experience in subcontinental conditions.
Several aspects make this tour particularly significant. First, the Tests represent not just WTC points but also a litmus test of Pakistan’s rebuilding red-ball side against the reigning powerhouse of South Africa. Second, the T20I clashes offer a direct preview of strategies and form heading into global ICC tournaments. And third, the revival of Faisalabad as a host city reflects the Pakistan Cricket Board’s commitment to spreading the game beyond the traditional big hubs.
This is also South Africa’s first multi-format tour to Pakistan in four years, and their return underscores the country’s successful revival as a safe and reliable cricket destination. For fans, it is a chance to witness a full spectrum of cricketing drama—from attritional Test battles to high-octane white-ball contests—all packed into a single month.
The Pakistan–South Africa series in October and November is more than just another entry in the Future Tours Programme. It’s a showcase of Pakistan’s ability to host high-profile international cricket while preparing its players for the challenges ahead. Both teams will enter the tour with points to prove, and the stage is perfectly set for a memorable contest across formats.
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