Pakistan and South Africa will play the third and final ODI of the series on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. With the series level at 1–1, this decisive match holds great importance for both teams as they aim to finish the tour with a trophy.
Match Details
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Match: Pakistan vs South Africa, 3rd ODI, South Africa Tour of Pakistan 2025
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Date: November 8, 2025
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Time: 3:00 PM Local, 3:30 PM IST
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Venue: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
The series has been competitive so far, with both teams showing moments of dominance. Pakistan started strongly by winning the first ODI, thanks to a composed half-century from Salman Ali Agha. Their chase was steady and well-constructed, giving them an early lead in the series. However, the hosts could not maintain the same rhythm in the second match. Despite posting a respectable total, Pakistan failed to defend it as South Africa’s strong top order took control of the game, forcing the series into a thrilling decider.
South Africa made an impressive comeback in the second ODI, led by Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 123. His innings showcased experience, timing, and smart shot selection, guiding the visitors to a comfortable win. The Proteas will rely heavily on their senior players in the final ODI, especially in pressure situations. With confidence restored, the visitors will walk into the third match with belief that they can clinch the series.
For Pakistan, consistency in the middle overs remains crucial. While top-order performances have shown glimpses of promise, Pakistan will need their bowling unit to step up. The combination of Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah will be central to their plans, especially with the new ball. Both pacers must strike early to push South Africa onto the back foot. In the second ODI, Pakistan struggled to contain runs during partnership phases, which they must avoid in the decider.
Head-to-Head in ODIs
Pakistan and South Africa have faced each other 89 times in ODIs. South Africa lead with 53 wins, while Pakistan have 35 victories. One match ended without a result. Their first ODI meeting came in 1992, and their most recent clash was on November 6, 2025.
Pitch Report – Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
The Iqbal Stadium pitch has favoured batters in the first two ODIs, offering minimal assistance to bowlers. The ball comes nicely onto the bat, making stroke play easy once the batters settle. Bowlers have had difficulty generating movement or turn, allowing chasing teams to take advantage of predictable conditions under lights. Toss-winning captains are likely to prefer bowling first, aiming to restrict the opposition and chase comfortably. A high-scoring match is expected again, with totals around 265–275 likely to be competitive.
Probable Playing XIs
Pakistan (Latest Squad and Tour Leaders):
Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi (c), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah
South Africa (Latest Squad and Tour Leaders):
Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke (c), Sinethemba Qeshile, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin, Nandre Burger, Nqabayomzi Peter
Key Players to Watch
For Pakistan, Salman Ali Agha is in excellent form with 131 runs in two matches. His calm presence in the middle order has been vital in building partnerships. Pakistan will rely on him again to anchor the innings and guide the side through pressure moments.
Corbin Bosch has been a standout bowler for South Africa in this series. With four wickets so far, he has consistently presented challenges for Pakistan’s batters with disciplined lines and variations. His 10-over spell in the final ODI could play a decisive role.
Live Broadcast and Streaming (Authentic Region-wise)
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Pakistan: Sports TV (YouTube Live)
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South Africa: SuperSport Cricket and SuperSport App
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India: Available on JioStar Sports channels and JioHotstar App
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UK: Shown on TNT Sports and TNT Sports App
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USA & Canada: Available on Willow TV and Willow App
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Middle East: CricLife and StarzPlay platforms
Probable Scenarios
If Pakistan chase, they will have an advantage due to the pitch characteristics and successful results of chasing teams. Early wickets could still challenge their middle order, making partnerships crucial.
If South Africa bat second, their top-order stability gives them confidence, especially under lights when the ball skids on.
Match Prediction
With conditions favouring chasing teams and both sides relying on their top order, the team batting second holds the edge.
Prediction: Chasing team to win the match.
