PAK vs SA Match Prediction : 1st ODI, South Africa tour of Pakistan, 2025

South Africa will face some significant changes since its last ODI. On the other hand, Pakistan will bring a more settled lineup. The home team will want to continue the momentum of an impressive ending to the T20I series.

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Pakistan vs South Africa Head-to-Head Record

Pakistan beat South Africa earlier this year in the Tri-Series preceding the ICC Champions Trophy. The home team also won three in a row against South Africa before that.

Pakistan vs South Africa Live-streaming and Broadcast

Pakistan faces South Africa in the first ODI at Iqbal Stadium on Tuesday, 4 November 2025.

You can find live odds, updated tips after every day's play, and more information about this match at ocbscores.com.

PAK vs SA Team Previews

Pakistan

Pakistan’s strong squad and home advantage make them the smart pick to take the opening ODI. Historically, South Africa has struggled under pressure. The team has already shown its weaknesses in Pakistani conditions in the shorter white-ball format.

Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan provide leadership stability and experience. Saim Ayub’s recent explosive form adds much-needed aggression in the first powerplay.

The batting lineup is firing on all cylinders against South Africa after scoring three consecutive team totals over 300 runs. Abrar Ahmed’s unpredictable spin to grab wickets and Mohammad Nawaz’s control of the run rate are major assets. The spin weapons could severely trouble South Africa’s weakness on subcontinent pitches.

Naseem Shah’s new-ball skills and Hasan Ali’s death-bowling prove that the team is not solely reliant on spin to win. Combining with all-rounders such as Salman Agha and Hussain Talat, Pakistan has more than enough depth of firepower across all departments to make this a very difficult task for the visitors.

Pakistan Expected Playing 11

Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Salman Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Hasan Ali, Abrar Ahmed

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South Africa

South AFrica's biggest weakness will be its vulnerability of struggling to play spin in the subcontinent. With plenty of additions to the previous ODI lineup, South Africa will be finding its feet on the fly from ball one. Quinton de Kock is a useful returnee but hasn’t played an ODI for two years.

While the top and middle order boasts firepower, there will be some question marks over whether this batting lineup can put together an innings constructed for 50-over cricket.

Should Pakistan's new-ball bowlers break through early, the inexperienced middle-order will face unrelenting pressure from spin in the middle overs. Touring sides consistently struggle against quality spin on subcontinent pitches. The Proteas are not immune to that fact. The team was bowled out for under 200 in its previous game at this venue.

The lower-order depth is questionable. Compared to Pakistan’s array of all-rounders offering a crucial safety net across departments, the Proteas seem underprepared. Betting against South Africa on current form seems like the less risky option.

South Africa Expected Playing 11

Tony de Zorzi, Quinton de Kock (wk), Matthew Breetzke (c), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, George Linde, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger

PAK vs SA Toss Prediction

With this match being played as a day/night ODI, both captains should prefer bowling first to get the better of the batting conditions in the second half. The previous match between the teams was won by Pakistan after they chased a total.

Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

While the surface tends to be good for run-scoring, the seamers early on with the new ball and spinners later with grip and turn, will still find wickets. The ground has not been used for an ODI in a while but should react similarly to most ODI surfaces in Pakistan. The previous ODI between Pakistan and South Africa produced over 700 runs.

The weather forecast for matchday hints at sunny and clear weather. The heat and humidity will be the biggest factors to contend with. There is no chance of rain.

PAK vs SA: Who Will Win?

Pakistan has a good chance of winning the first ODI primarily because they are playing at home and outperformed the South Africans in the last two T20Is to win the T20I series. The absence of several key players through injury and rest weakens South Africa's squad.

Bet on Pakistan to win.

Pro Tip: The ODI format is where Babar Azam really shines. He has hit some good form with runs in Test cricket and now the T20s as well. I think this could be the perfect time for him to come back into big runs and recommend betting on it.