The Pakistan cricket team is poised to launch its campaign in the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) with a highly anticipated two-match Test series against South Africa. The opening Test is scheduled to commence on October 12, marking the start of a comprehensive multi-format tour that will also feature white-ball contests.
Historic Return and Full Tour Itinerary
This series holds special significance as it marks the return of the South African Test team to Pakistan for the first time since 2021. On that previous tour, a Pakistani side led by Babar Azam secured a convincing 2-0 series victory. The upcoming battle is not limited to the red-ball format; it is the beginning of a complete bilateral engagement.
The tour will encompass a total of eight matches across three formats. Following the two Tests, the teams will compete in three T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals. The PCB has announced a clear schedule for all fixtures.
Complete Pakistan vs South Africa 2024 Schedule
Test Series:
1st Test: October 12–16, Lahore
2nd Test: October 20–24, Rawalpindi
T20I Series:
1st T20I: October 28, Rawalpindi
2nd T20I: October 31, Lahore
3rd T20I: November 1, Lahore
ODI Series:
1st ODI: November 4, Faisalabad
2nd ODI: November 6, Faisalabad
3rd ODI: November 8, Faisalabad
Faisalabad's Landmark Return to ODI Cricket
A major highlight of the tour is the return of 50-over international cricket to Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium. The venue has not hosted an ODI match for a staggering 17 years, with the last encounter being between Pakistan and Bangladesh in April 2008.
PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed emphasized the importance of this homecoming. He stated that the board is delighted to welcome South Africa as the first opponent in the new WTC cycle and that reconnecting fans in the Faisalabad region with top-level cricket is a significant milestone, given the stadium's rich history.
Strategic Importance and Viewing Details
This extensive series serves a dual purpose for Pakistan. Primarily, it is a crucial start to their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign, where every point will count. Secondly, it offers a vital opportunity to assess bench strength in the limited-overs formats ahead of a packed international calendar.
For fans in India and elsewhere, the Test matches will not have a live telecast on television. However, the action can be followed via live streaming on the FanCode app and website. The toss for the Test matches is set for 10:00 AM IST, with play starting at 10:30 AM IST.
As Pakistan looks to build on its previous home success against the Proteas, this tour promises to deliver high-quality cricket across formats, rekindle historic rivalries, and bring international matches back to passionate fans in key Pakistani cities.
