Pakistan-South Africa cricket rivalry has long been at the heart of cricket fans’ narrative. From Tests, ODIs and T20Is all the way through to T20Is, head-to-head clashes between these teams have provided unforgettable contests filled with technical brilliance and memorable moments that have resonated across generations of fans worldwide.
South Africa have often dominated ODI and T20I bilateral series against Pakistan, but in major tournaments, Pakistan’s showmanship and experience have shone through in the Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard.
| Match # | Date | Format | Venue | Pakistan Score | South Africa Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 Oct 2025 | Test (2nd Test) | Rawalpindi | 333 & 138 | 404 & 73/2 | SA won by 8 wickets (Wisden) |
| 2 | 12 Oct 2025 | Test (1st Test) | Lahore | Pakistan 378 & 167 | South Africa 269 & 183 | PAK won by 93 runs (Times Now Navbharat) |
| 3 | 03 Jan 2025 | ODI | (Neutral/series) | — | — | SA won by 10 wickets (Wisden) |
| 4 | 26 Dec 2024 | ODI | (Series in SA) | — | — | SA won by 2 wickets (Wisden) |
| 5 | 04 Feb 2021 | ODI | (Older H2H match) | — | — | PAK won by 95 runs (Wisden) |
Early Encounters and the Rise of a Rivalry
South Africa and Pakistan’s cricket matchups on the field are more than mere matches. Each clash represents more than two nations’ histories and passion, embodying both countries in one unforgettable moment.
Over the years, their longstanding rivalry has provided iconic moments which have defined cricket, with each contest showcasing both teams’ distinct styles of play. From playing philosophies that clash to injury crises to nail-biting knockout games – this rivalry remains as captivating as ever!
South Africa and Pakistan’s longstanding rivalry dates back decades, boasting decades of high-octane clashes that span from South Africa’s dominance of T20 cricket during the 90s/00s to their recent competition in Test series, never fails to deliver dramatic moments – be it World Cup final or an ICC tournament quarter-final, there is always something exciting and memorable happening between these teams!
At the outset of their rivalry, South Africa proved itself as a strong favorite when it came to Test cricket matches against Pakistan.
They won 17 out of 30 Test matches while Pakistan managed six victories; there have also been several draws between these sides which makes for an even record in this format.
South Africa and Pakistan’s rivalry is only intensified when playing limited-overs cricket, where both sides showcase their skill under pressure by performing brilliantly during one day or twenty twenty internationals (ODIs and T20Is).
Both sides show incredible resilience when put under immense pressure – both teams proving they are reliable performers under duress.
South Africa and Pakistan’s rivalry is defined by opposing pitches, playing conditions, and styles of both teams’ players.
South African home surfaces offer pace, bounce, seam movement, providing visiting batsmen with a stiff test. Conversely, Pakistan’s pitches – both those played during exile years in UAE as well as home ones now played domestically – tend to be slower allowing spinners an edge against pacey batsmen.
Test Cricket Battles
Pakistan and South Africa will face off in an upcoming Test series that promises to be one of the greatest in Test team history.
South Africa enters this contest at an impressive point, having won four out of their last five Test matches, including an emphatic win over Australia at the World Test Championship final and two clear victories over Zimbabwe.
Pakistan are struggling in long format cricket and come into this series on the back of three defeats from five outings in recent times.
Pakistan remain a formidable opponent at home despite recent setbacks, boasting an excellent batting unit led by Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq as well as a depth of bowlers such as Kagiso Rabada, Mohammad Amir, Zubayr Hamza, and Shaheen Afridi who can all contribute in Test cricket.
At home, their combination of pace and spin makes them a dangerous side, particularly on pitches which suit their style.
Furthermore, they possess an effective lower order with batsmen such as Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, and Salman Agha in their ranks.
South Africa will look to rebound after their dismal showing in Lahore, when they were dismissed for just 167 after being sent in to bat.
Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi provided some resistance but eventually succumbed on a surface that offered lots of turn and variable bounce.
Noman Ali and Sajid Khan’s spinners proved decisive, taking wickets at regular intervals to keep South African batsmen struggling against conditions at bay – their lower order collapse leaving Pakistan holding an 112-run advantage at stumps compared to South Africa.
This will be of major concern as both spinners could play pivotal roles again at Karachi in Test 2, making this second match crucial in terms of momentum for both sides.
ICC Tournaments
Men’s 2025 season had been solid, yet wasn’t quite enough to offset their Champions Trophy loss. Final was an uninspiring affair where England’s relentless pursuit of target proved too much for South African side who never quite managed to match England’s pace and power.
At home, it was much the same in ODIs; South Africa were perceived as tournament favourites but struggled to convert early home series victories into tangible results, leading to them suffering their first loss since 2022 – an ODI series at home!
But they did show signs of life by defeating New Zealand at home and winning the second ODI series against India – evidence that their bad run may finally be behind them and refocusing their energies as they prepare to compete at the ODI World Cup this May.
T20Is have gone well for India so far; both their matches against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were won convincingly to qualify them for the quarter-finals. A win against Pakistan on Saturday could see them take first place in Group D.
The Proteas have named an impressive white-ball squad to compete in ODIs and T20Is against Pakistan and Namibia. Debutant wicketkeeper-batsman Rubin Hermann will join Lungi Ngidi back after missing most of last summer’s England tour due to knee issues; and captain Quinton de Kock will miss Pakistan due to a hamstring injury; Babar Azam will step in instead.
Pakistan have competed twice in ICC T20 World Cup tournaments and have triumphed both times. Most recently they met during Australia and New Zealand’s edition in 2022 where Pakistan prevailed 4-2 to take home victory, thanks to Shakib Al Hasan scoring his maiden T20 World Cup hundred and sealing victory. Their next meeting will come during India’s tournament from 8 November-24 November 2025; semi-finals and final will take place 11 and 12 November respectively before final will be on 21 November.
Key World Cup Clashes
As South Africa and Pakistan prepared to face off in a tightly contested contest, warning bells began ringing. After losing both opening games against Bangladesh and India, their only victory had come against minnow Afghanistan; therefore they risked missing out on reaching a semi-final spot altogether.
Babar Azam won the toss and elected for Pakistan to bat first, but Pakistan soon unraveled after their openers were dismissed.
Only Saud Shakeel with a run-a-ball 52 provided any resistance in an innings that eventually finished for 270 in 46.4 overs. South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi took an important wicket to limit Pakistan’s momentum; Keshav Maharaj hit an explosive six in the last over for an exciting win by South African.
Aiden Markram’s unbeaten 91 not out enabled South Africa to break their 24-year World Cup jinx against Pakistan and move closer to a semi-final spot.
There were some nerves along the way as Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma both fell quickly while David Miller scored just 26 from one ball in an attempt to speed things along; even so, South Africa were well on course for victory until Gerald Coetzee was caught off Shaheen Shah Afridi at point and Marco Jansen fell short due to Haris Rauf diving catch a few balls later.
South Africa have found themselves on an upwards trajectory despite their loss to India, and can make the semifinals with two victories from four remaining matches – all other results falling into their favour likely being necessary as well.
South Africans must overcome an unfavorable record against top teams of their time to be competitive in this tournament, and will rely heavily on their batters – particularly Markram and Jansen who have shown particularly impressive form – for runs scored. On Friday they face Pakistan again in what promises to be an entertaining contest; whoever emerges victorious will go straight to the top of the table.