Pakistan will compete South Africa In the first match of the two-match Test series. This article provides details about the playing 11 of Pakistan vs South Africa for the first match of the series.
Pakistan Playing XI vs South Africa- 1st Test, South Africa tour of Pakistan 2025:
Openers: Abdullah Shafiq, Imam-ul-Haq
Pakistan would like to make a good start in the first match of the two-match Test series against South Africa starting on Sunday (October 12).
The team will be led by Shan Masood, who was appointed captain of the Test team in 2023.
However, Pakistan have not had a good run in the longest format of the game in the last few years, and after the series defeat on home soil, they will take confidence from the fact that they managed to draw the series the last time they played at home.
The home team will look to be at their best in an attempt to take an early lead against the World Test Championship winners.
It is expected that Pakistan will start the innings with the pair of Abdullah Shafiq and Imam-ul-Haq.
Shafiq has a good record in Test matches played at home and would like to extend it further, while his teammate Imam-ul-Haq will be seen in a Test match after a long time and would like to take advantage of it.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Aga, Aamir Jamal.
The opening pair will be followed by an experienced middle-order, which includes players like current Test captain Shan Masood and former captain Babar Azam, who are making a comeback to the Test team.
The pair will look to score big and to do so they will need the support of Saud Shakeel Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Aga.
A lot will depend on Salman Ali Aga, who has been in good form over the past year batting at number six or seven in this format of the game and has formed valuable partnerships with lower-order batsmen.
The T20I captain would like to do more of the same, especially when the team collapses, which has been a common occurrence in recent times.
Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan
If we talk about the bowling lineup, it sees the return of experienced fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, as well as Aamir Jamal, who has been struggling with injuries since his breakout performance in Australia.
The fast bowling pair will be entrusted with the responsibility of taking wickets with the new ball and making things easy for the spinners.
As far as the spin bowling department is concerned, it will be handled by two bowlers who took all 20 wickets in the first Test against West Indies and led the team to a memorable win.
Noman Aki and Sajid Khan will hope to continue their good performance against a strong South African batting lineup who will be playing a Test match after a two-Test tour of Zimbabwe.
