South Africa set for shortened tour of Pakistan as WTC 2025–2027 kicks off

South Africa’s men’s cricket team is scheduled to tour Pakistan later this year, marking the launch of Pakistan’s campaign in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027.

The tour is expected to span around a month, although Cricket South Africa (CSA) has requested a more compact itinerary to limit the team’s time away from home.

According to sources close to the ongoing discussions, CSA has proposed a schedule featuring 16 match days along with two weeks reserved for rest and recovery.

Both cricket boards are in talks to finalize the tour structure, with at least a three-day gap proposed between the two scheduled Test matches.

Provisional Tour Timeline

First Test: Likely to begin on October 12

Second Test: Tentatively scheduled from October 20

ODI Series: Three matches anticipated in the final week of October

T20I Series: Set for the first week of November

Venues Under Consideration

Test Matches: Lahore and Rawalpindi are the frontrunners to host the red-ball fixtures.

ODIs and T20Is: Multan and Faisalabad are in contention, along with Lahore and Rawalpindi.

A CSA reconnaissance team recently visited Pakistan to assess security and logistical arrangements. Their report will be presented to CSA leadership before a final decision on the tour schedule is made.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has submitted multiple date options, and both boards will jointly confirm the final fixture list once the evaluation is complete.

Interestingly, the South African team has communicated a preference to forgo honorary and ceremonial obligations during the tour, opting to maintain a strict focus on on-field commitments.

This home series against South Africa will serve as Pakistan’s opening assignment in the WTC 2025–2027 cycle. It will be followed by two-Test away series against Bangladesh and West Indies as part of their early Test calendar.