Overview

• Captain Shan Masood chose to bat first at Gaddafi Stadium, looking to leverage spin-friendly home conditions in the series opener.
• Pakistan’s XI includes off-spinner Sajid Khan after recovery from flu alongside Nauman Ali, with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali leading the pace attack.
• Earlier talk of 38-year-old Asif Afridi debuting did not materialize, as Pakistan opted for Sajid Khan to partner Nauman Ali.
• Aiden Markram captains South Africa in the absence of Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj, with the Proteas fielding three specialist spinners in Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer and Prenelan Subrayen.
• The two-Test series begins the 2025–27 World Test Championship for both teams, with the second match set for Rawalpindi from October 20–24 after South Africa trained on exaggerated-turn pitches in Pretoria.