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PAK vs SA 1st Test statistical preview: Key stats, records and head-to-head ahead of the clash

Akshita Patel

Pakistan to face South Africa in 1st Test [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/X.com]Pakistan to face South Africa in 1st Test [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/X.com]

Pakistan is set to host South Africa in the first Test of the 2-game series on Sunday, October 12. The match will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore at 10:00 AM IST.

Pakistan

Pakistan will host South Africa for their first red-ball series since January. Captain Shan Masood will depend on experienced campaigners Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi to set the tone early in the WTC cycle. The team looks to build momentum at home and exploit familiar conditions against a touring side.

South Africa

Defending WTC champions South Africa tour Pakistan without full-time captain Temba Bavuma, with Aiden Markram leading in his absence. Spinner Keshav Maharaj will also miss the first Test, leaving the side to adapt quickly to spin-friendly conditions. Regardless, the Proteas will enter as clear favourites in this series.

PAK vs SA Head-to-head overview

Pakistan have clashed with South Africa in a total of 30 Tests. Out of this, the Proteas won 17 games, while the men in green managed to win just 6 games, while 7 clashes ended in draws.

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore pitch report

Gaddafi Stadium, having hosted 41 Tests, is known for being batting-friendly, often producing high-scoring draws. Teams batting second have fared better, winning 15 matches compared to just four for those batting first. 

While the pitch favours batters, bowlers can make an impact, particularly spinners and reverse-swinging pacers, who come into play during the later sessions. Expect a balanced contest where early wickets are key, but the surface generally allows batters to build big innings. 

Pakistan and South Africa probably playing XI

Pakistan

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

South Africa

Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen

Top run scorers in PAK vs SA Tests

We are only considering the players from the current squad.

Aiden Markram - 585 runs

South Africa’s stand-in captain Aiden Markram has hammered 585 runs in 7 Tests against Pakistan. He maintained 48.75 average, 54.72 strike rate with 1 hundred and 4 fifties.

Babar Azam - 536 runs

Pakistan’s premium batter Babar Azam has scored 536 runs in 7 Tests against South Africa with 38.38 average, 63.88 strike rate and 6 fifties.

Shan Masood - 516 runs

Pakistan skipper Shan Masood has also been relatively successful against South Africa, scoring 516 runs in 7 Tests with 36.85 average, 52.86 strike rate, 1 hundred and 3 fifties.

Top wicket-takers in PAK vs SA Tests

We are only considering the players from the current squad.

Kagiso Rabada - 30 wickets

South African speedster Kagiso Rabada has dominated Pakistan with 30 wickets in just 7 Tests. He had a 26.26 average, 3.47 economy and a four-wicket-haul as well.

Hasan Ali - 18 wickets

Veteran Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali has picked 18 wickets in just 4 Tests against the Proteas. He had a 27.94 average, 3.97 economy and 2 fifers. 

Shaheen Afridi - 16 wickets

For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi has previously claimed 16 wickets in 4 Tests against South Africa with 27.37 average, 3.57 economy and a four-wicket-haul.

PAK vs SA key stats

Pakistan key records

  • Mohammad Rizwan has 2273 runs in 39 Tests with 40.58 average, 54.32 strike rate, 3 hundreds and 11 fifties. Against South Africa, he has 283 runs with 47.16 average and a ton.
  • Since Gaddafi Stadium is preparing a spin-friendly surface, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan will be key for Pakistan. Both players picked up 31 wickets in 2 Tests alone in 2025.
  • Aiden Markram vs Noman Ali - 55 runs, 144 balls, 2 dismissals
  • Babar Azam vs Kagiso Rabada - 128 runs, 212 balls, 3 dismissals
  • Shan Masood vs Kagiso Rabada - 118 runs, 205 balls, 2 dismissals
  • In 2025, Pakistan played 7 Tests, winning 2 while losing 5 and having a 3.57 run rate per over.

South Africa key records

  • Kagiso Rabada has seen enormous success against Pakistan in the past, with 30 wickets in 14 innings. This year, he has claimed 15 wickets in 2 Tests with a 5-wicket-haul.
  • Wiaan Mulder is having a dream year in the Test format, with 569 runs in 6 innings, including 113.80 average, 81.40 strike rate, 2 hundreds and the highest score of 367*.
  • Aiden Markram is also in stellar form, coming off a century in the WTC 2025 final. Overall, he has amassed 2993 runs in 46 Tests with 36.50 average, 8 hundreds and 13 fifties.
  • Markram has also scored 405 runs in 33 Test innings against left-arm pacers while getting dismissed 10 times. His stable average can help him tackle Shaheen Afridi in this match.
  • Babar Azam vs Marco Jansen - 26 runs, 60 balls, 2 dismissals
  • South Africa have a spotless record in Tests this year, having won 4 out of 4 matches, including the WTC 2025 final.

Records that can be broken in PAK vs SA 1st Test

  • Aiden Makram is 7 runs away from completing 3000 Test runs
  • Marco Jansen is 3 wickets away from completing 80 Test wickets
  • Babar Azam is 5 fours away from completing 500 fours in the Test format.
  • Abar Ahmed is 4 wickets away from completing 50 Test wickets.
  • Shaheen Afridi is 4 wickets away from completing 120 Test wickets.