Pakistan are all set to face South Africa in the first T20I of the highly-anticipated three-match series on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The match is scheduled to begin at 8:30 PM (IST). Both teams recently played a two-match Test series, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and now shift focus to the shortest format, promising another competitive clash.
Match Details:
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Match: Pakistan vs South Africa, 1st T20I (South Africa tour of Pakistan 2025)
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Date & Time: Tuesday, October 28, 2025; 8:30 PM (IST)
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Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
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Live Broadcast & Streaming: FanCode (app & website) in India, PTV Sports in Pakistan, and SuperSport in South Africa
Team Overviews
Pakistan:
The hosts enter this T20I series aiming to bounce back from their inconsistent performance in the 2025 Asia Cup, where they finished as runners-up after losing all three encounters to India. Despite the ups and downs, Pakistan showed resilience, winning four out of seven matches. Playing in familiar home conditions, Pakistan will be confident of putting up a strong fight against South Africa.
Captain Agha Salman will lead the side, while senior players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Nawaz add balance and experience. Pakistan’s top order will be key to setting up a solid foundation, while their pace attack — led by Shaheen, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim Jr — remains one of the most dangerous in the world.
South Africa:
South Africa will look to regroup after a disappointing T20I loss to Namibia earlier this month. With a blend of experience and youth, the Proteas will rely on senior pros like Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, and Lungi Ngidi to steady the team. Youngsters such as Dewald Brevis and Donovan Ferreira have already shown glimpses of their talent and will be eager to make a mark in subcontinental conditions. Skipper Donovan Ferreira will need to manage both the expectations and the inexperience of his relatively young squad.
Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
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Matches Played: 24
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Pakistan Wins: 12
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South Africa Wins: 12
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No Result: 0
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Tied: 0
The T20I rivalry between the two teams stands perfectly balanced, with both having 12 wins each. This makes the opening match in Rawalpindi crucial, as one side will gain an early psychological edge in the series.
Probable Playing XIs
Pakistan:
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Agha (c), Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah
South Africa:
Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Donovan Ferreira (c), George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Nqaba Peter, Lungi Ngidi, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger
Pitch Report — Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
The Rawalpindi surface generally offers good bounce and pace for the fast bowlers early on, but it becomes excellent for batting as the match progresses. There might be slight movement with the new ball in the first few overs, so early wickets could prove vital. Dew is expected to play a role in the second innings, making it easier for teams chasing under lights.
Expected Conditions:
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Slight swing early on for pacers
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True bounce assisting shot-making later
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Dew factor to favour chasing side
Hence, the captain winning the toss is likely to bowl first to take advantage of the conditions.
Key Players to Watch
Dewald Brevis (South Africa):
The young batting sensation has been in spectacular form, having scored a century and a fifty in his last T20I series against Australia. His fearless stroke play can change the course of the match, and he’ll be key to South Africa’s hopes in Rawalpindi.
Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan):
Pakistan’s pace spearhead has a strong record at home and recently took 10 wickets in the Asia Cup at an average of 16.40. His ability to swing the ball both ways and strike early could cause serious trouble for South Africa’s top order.
Babar Azam (Pakistan):
The elegant right-hander remains Pakistan’s most consistent T20 batter. With home conditions in his favour, Babar will aim to anchor the innings and build around the aggressive hitters.
Quinton de Kock (South Africa):
A proven match-winner, De Kock’s explosive starts can set the tone for South Africa. His battle against Pakistan’s pace attack will be a highlight of the contest.
Probable Scenarios
If Pakistan bowl first, their fast bowlers could make early inroads, setting the tone for their spinners to control the middle overs. A target around 160 could be competitive, but Pakistan’s strong top order makes them dangerous while chasing.
If South Africa bowl first, Ngidi and Maphaka will look to exploit the new ball movement, but containing Pakistan’s experienced middle order in the later stages could be a challenge.
Match Prediction
Both teams have solid line-ups, but Pakistan hold a slight edge due to home advantage and a stronger bowling attack. South Africa’s inexperience in Asian conditions could make it tough for them to adapt quickly.
Prediction: Pakistan to win the 1st T20I.
The chasing team is likely to have the upper hand given the dew factor, but Pakistan’s bowlers could make the difference.
The Rawalpindi encounter promises exciting cricket — a clash between Pakistan’s world-class pace attack and South Africa’s young, fearless batting unit. The winner of this first T20I will take early control in what promises to be a tightly fought series.