Overview

• The first Test of the two‑match series begins Sunday at Gaddafi Stadium, launching both teams’ 2025–27 World Test Championship campaigns.
• Stand‑in captain Aiden Markram leads South Africa with Temba Bavuma out due to a calf injury and lead spinner Keshav Maharaj unavailable for the opener with a groin strain.
• Local reports say Pakistan have finalized an XI that includes 38‑year‑old left‑arm spinner Asif Afridi after Sajid Khan was ruled out by a viral illness, alongside fellow spinner Nauman Ali in a 7‑2‑2 balance.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi returns to Test cricket after a year and is expected to share the new ball with Hasan Ali, with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan back to bolster the batting.
• Both camps expect turning pitches after Pakistan’s past use of aggressive pitch preparation; South Africa trained on exaggerated spin surfaces, with Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy tipped to feature.