Lahore: Pakistan is set to host South Africa for an all-format cricket tour starting in October, marking the launch of Pakistan’s ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign. This tour will see South Africa returning for their first Test series in Pakistan since 2021, where they faced a 2-0 defeat.

The series will begin with two Test matches, the first of which is scheduled to commence on October 12. South Africa, the defending champions, will aim to overturn their past performance against the hosts, who were led at the time by Babar Azam.

Following the Test matches, the two teams will engage in six white-ball games, comprising three T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals (ODIs). The ODI series will be held at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. This venue is significant as it will host its first 50-over international match in 17 years, with the last one being played against Bangladesh in April 2008.

Sumair Ahmed Syed, the Chief Operating Officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming series. “We are looking forward to welcoming South Africa for the opening series of our ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign,” he stated. He also highlighted the return of ODI cricket to Faisalabad as a noteworthy event, emphasizing the historical importance of Iqbal Stadium in Pakistan’s cricketing legacy.

The full schedule of the series is as follows:

– First Test: 12-16 October, Lahore

– Second Test: 20-24 October, Rawalpindi

– First T20I: 28 October, Rawalpindi

– Second T20I: 31 October, Lahore

– Third T20I: 1 November, Lahore

– First ODI: 4 November, Faisalabad

– Second ODI: 6 November, Faisalabad

– Third ODI: 8 November, Faisalabad

The tour promises to be a thrilling contest between the two cricketing nations, with both teams eager to make a strong start in the new championship cycle.