pakistan will bear South Africa in the first match of the two-match Test series. This article provides detailed information about the first match of the South Africa Playing 11 series against Pakistan.

South Africa vs Pakistan – 1st Test Match, South Africa Tour of Pakistan 2025

Opener: Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton

South Africa will kick off the fourth edition of the World Test Championship with a two-Test series against Pakistan.

The visitors will be without regular captain Temba Bavuma and will be led by Aiden Markram.

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Team Africa has named a relatively young squad who don’t have much experience heading into Test matches in Pakistan.

Having said that, the team will take confidence from their win over Australia in the World Test Championship final and put in a strong performance with bat, ball and field because they have the resources to do so.

The Proteas will start the batting with Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton and hope they can perform well to provide a solid platform for the middle-order batsmen.

Aiden Markram, South Africa’s captain for this series, will take up the responsibility as captain and senior batsman of the team.

Markram will seek strong support from his opening partner Ryan Rickton, who himself will be looking to perform well as a batsman in the first game of the series.

Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Devalde Braves, Marco Jansen, Kyle Veraine (WC), Viane Mulder

After the first pair will be the middle order, which is a bit young in terms of experience in the longest format of the game, especially when it comes to batsmen who are likely to bat at number three, four and five

The likes of Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis are still finding their feet at the Test level and will be looking to score big runs in their first games to take the pressure off their backs

Due to the lack of experience, batsmen such as David Bedingham and Marco Jansen will play a vital role in the South African batting line-up if the team is to achieve a total of over 350 runs.

One of the biggest advantages that the Proteas have in the Test series against Pakistan is that the team has a strong batting line-up that stretches right up to the XI with players like Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada able to handle themselves.

Bowlers: Prenelan Subayan, Senuran Mutusamy, Kagiso Rabada

Proteas hope that Spinners can do well in the first game of the series as conditions in Lahore are expected to be favorable for them.

South Africa is expected to field at least two specialist spinners in Prenelan Subrayen and Senuran Muthusamy, with Keshav Maharaj also joining the squad for the second Test.

As far as the Proteas’ fast bowling department is concerned, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen will return, both of whom have not played a Test match since the World Test Championship final earlier this year.

Apart from the duo, the team will also be helped by fast bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who has been in good form with the bat of late and has also made considerable contributions with the ball.