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PAK vs SA statistical preview: Key stats, records and head-to-head ahead of 1st T20I

Soumyajit Dutta

PAK vs SA statistical preview [Source: @amrit_yohi/X.com]PAK vs SA statistical preview [Source: @amrit_yohi/X.com]

After a series tie in the Test affair, hosts Pakistan and visitors South Africa are all set to play a three-match T20I series again. The 1st T20I is set to be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 28. Fans can enjoy the action live from 8:30 PM IST.

Pakistan

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha is all set to lead the men in Green in the first T20I as Babar Azam made his return to the squad. This will be the team's first T20I affair after the Asia Cup 2025 final disappointment. It ought to be a bounce back from the previous slumps and a test of fire to gain control of their form.

Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub will be the go-to options for Pakistan to build with the bat at the top. The bowling attack will be led by Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim and Usman Tariq.

South Africa

The Donovan Ferreira-led South Africa team will be on the lookout to get a good name for themselves as well. After a disappointing England T20I run and a loss against Namibia, South Africa will eye this series for pride.

Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis and Tony de Zori will be responsible for big totals, while Corbin Bosch, Ottneil Baartman, Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger will be hunting wickets at Rawalpindi.

PAK vs SA head-to-head overview in T20Is

Pakistan have played 24 T20I matches against South Africa. Out of all these contests, Pakistan managed to get 12 wins, and the Proteas also bagged 12 wins. Hence, with the record equal, both teams will eye to get an edge in the upcoming contest.

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch report

Historically, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has been one of the flattest tracks in the country. A batter's haven for a T20I game. It offers very little assistance to seamers and spinners, and is technically a smashing park.

If the venue's 'flat' curation continues, the dead track might see brutal hammering. Hence, expect a high-scoring contest with the bat from the outset.

Pakistan and South Africa's probable playing XI

Pakistan

Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed

South Africa

Quinton de Kock (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Donovan Ferreira (c), George Linde, Bjorn Fortuin, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.

Top run scorers in PAK vs SA T20Is

We are considering only the players from the current squad.

Babar Azam: 447 runs

From his 13 outings against the Proteas in T20Is, Babar Azam has scored 447 runs at an average of 34.38. He also boasts a strike rate of 141.45 and a century against the team, which underlines his dominance.

Reeza Hendricks: 330 runs

Reeza Hendricks has been an absolute nightmare for Pakistan in T20Is. He boasts an average of 41.25 from just 8 matches, where he piled up 330 runs at a strike rate of 147.98.

Quinton de Kock: 147 runs

Quinton de Kock has amassed a decent 147 against Pakistan from his 5 T20I outings. He averages 36.75 while maintaining a strike rate of 123.52 against the Men in Green.

Top wicket-takers in PAK vs SA T20Is

We are considering only the players from the current squad.

Shaheen Afridi: 13 wickets

Shaheen Afridi has been the strike bowler for Pakistan against South Africa. He has bagged 13 wickets from his 12 matches and also boasts a best figure of 3/14 while maintaining an economy rate of 7.53.

Faheem Ashraf: 8 wickets

Faheem Ashraf, the witty pacer from Pakistan, boasts 8 wickets from 9 T20I matches against South Africa. However, he has a costly economy rate of 9.69, though he boasts the best figures of 3/17.

George Linde: 8 wickets 

George Linde has 8 Pakistan wickets from his 6 T20I matches. He also boasts a decent economy rate of 7.20 while having an astonishing 4/21 haul against the team.

PAK vs SA key stats

Pakistan's key records

  • Pakistan have a solid W/L ratio of 1.458 in T20Is, where they have won 159 matches out of 279 games.
  • At Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan have a worrying record of only 4 wins from the 8 T20I games they have played there.
  • Babar Azam averages 40.6 at Rawalpindi from five T20I matches while having an excellent strike rate of 142.0.
  • Mohammad Nawaz has only 4 wickets at Rawalpindi from his 7 matches at the venue. He also has a poor economy rate of 9.50.
  • Saim Ayub has a disappointing average of 16.9 in T20I cricket this year from his 1 outing.
  • Shaheen Afridi vs Quinton de Kock in T20Is: 0 runs; 5 balls; 0 dismissals
  • Babar Azam vs George Linde in T20Is: 34 runs; 27 balls; 1 dismissal

South Africa's key records

  • South Africa has a W/L ratio of 1.225 in away T20I games. They have won 38 out of 71 T20I games in away conditions.
  • The Proteas have managed to get a high score of 210 runs against Pakistan in a T20I encounter.
  • Dewald Brevis boasts an excellent average of 42.5 in 2025 from his ten T20I outings.
  • Lungi Ngidi has 7 wickets from the 7 matches he played in T20I cricket this year.
  • Donovan Ferreira has managed to bag only 52 runs from his 3 T20I outings this year.
  • Nandre Burger have maintained an economy rate of 6.50 this year from all his T20I games.
  • Babar Azam vs Lungi Ngidi in T20Is: 3 runs; 7 balls; 1 dismissal

Records that can be broken in PAK vs SA 1st T20I

  • Saim Ayub needs 11 boundaries to complete 100 4s in his T20I career.
  • Lungi Ngidi is 8 wickets away from toppling Kagiso Rabada and becoming the second-highest wicket-taker for South Africa in T20Is.