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

The South Africans are likely to face an ambush of spin-bowling in this Test match. That is, if Shaheen Shah Afridi has not already cleaned up the away side’s batting lineup. The visitors will have their backs against the wall in these foreign conditions.

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Pakistan vs South Africa Head-to-Head Record

Pakistan and South Africa are almost balanced over the past five Tests against each other. South Africa has three wins, including earlier this year, against Pakistan in the past five Tests. Pakistan has two home victories from 2021 to speak of.

Pakistan vs South Africa Live-streaming and Broadcast

The FanCode app is the only place to view this Test between Pakistan and South Africa in India. PTV and Ten Sports will carry this match in Pakistan, while Super Sport Cricket will broadcast the match on its channels in South Africa.

The first Test is scheduled for 12 to 16 October 2025 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

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

Shan Masood will bring calm and tactical astuteness at the top, alongside the patient Imam-ul-Haq. Masood’s previous Test knock against South Africa was 145 runs. Babar Azam remains the side’s premier run-machine, while oozing class at the crease. He hit back-to-back half-centuries in the second Test against the Proteas.

The middle order looks solid with Kamran Ghulam and Saud Shakeel both being capable of grinding out runs or upping the ante with the scoring rate. If things don’t go to plan, Mohammad Rizwan adds his trademark fighting spirit when needed.

The team scored 478 runs in the second innings of its previous Test, in South African conditions. Just imagine what the lineup could do when returning home.

The all-round depth is strengthened by Salman Agha.

Pakistan’s spin trio of Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Abrar Ahmed will be menacing as the pitch wears on. Noman Ali’s previous Test performance was a ten-wicket haul in the match, comprising a six-wicket and four-wicket haul across two innings.

Sajid Khan took a four-wicket haul in the second innings of the same match. The spin-bowling is where the game will be won and lost. Shaheen Shah Afridi completes this dependable bowling unit with pace and swing to start, setting the tone for the entire match.

The home team has all the ingredients to claim a victory in Lahore.

Pakistan Expected Playing 11

Shan Masood (c), Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi

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South Africa

Aiden Markram is talented as a leader and batter. The struggles for the team are likely to be the batting lineup around him feeling brittle. Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi have shown flashes at Test level but remain unproven in the subcontinent.

David Bedingham and Tristan Stubbs are still finding their feet in Test cricket. While Bedingham may have secured a milestone in his previous Test innings, he was made to wait for 12 innings before bringing up another half-century. They could be fresh for the taking when the Pakistani spinners get the ball in hand.

Behind the stumps, Kyle Verreynne is reliable but not a game-changer.

The spin department looks particularly underwhelming. Simon Harmer, Senuran Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen are unlikely to trouble Pakistan’s batters on their own turf. Muthusamy only has two Test wickets on the subcontinent. Subrayen will be taking his first trip to Asia.

With all the spin options being finger-spinners, the team lacks something special.

That leaves Kagiso Rabada as the lone world-class performer, but even he cannot be expected to carry the attack single-handedly across five days. In Lahore’s draining heat, he won’t have conditions in his favour either.

Overall, this South African side feels ill-equipped to handle Pakistan’s spin-friendly conditions. The Pakistan team looks set to expose any holes in their visitors’ lineup.

South Africa Expected Playing 11

Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (c), Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada

PAK vs SA Toss Prediction

Batting first is likely to be non-negotiable for both captains. The previous Test for Pakistan against South Africa in Pakistan was won by batting first.

Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

The Gaddafi Stadium pitch should be a firm, batting-friendly one. The pacers could use seam movement to their advantage in the first few days before the spinners come to play in the last few days. The hot, dry conditions should provide the batters with flat batting conditions for a period of time. 391 was the previous first-innings total at Gaddafi Stadium.

Weather over the five days is expected to be consistently warm and dry. The five days should face little rain with a range of only one to two percent chance of rain.

PAK vs SA: Who Will Win?

Home conditions have become such an important factor in recent Test history. With the Pakistani Test team fully equipped to dealing with its home pitches, there should be no looking past a home victory. The South Africans will need to find answers quickly on a tricky away tour. An 80% return on your stake is excellent value right now.

Bet on Pakistan to win.

Pro Tip: The pitch will play a massive role in how this match progresses and so the smart move here is to keep 50% of your betting purse for in-play betting. If the pitch looks dusty and spins a lot, bet against every single South African middle-order batter that you can. The chances of you come out profitable are excellent.