South Africa returns to Pakistan for the first time in four and a half years this month. The reigning World Test Champions were whitewashed on Pakistani soil previously, but come better prepared for the challenge this time. Check out our PAK vs SA cricket betting tips for the best betting insights and pre-match analysis ahead of the first Test on Sunday.
South Africa will play two Test matches against the hosts before three T20Is and three ODIs. The matches will be held in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | 2025 South Africa Tour of Pakistan (Two Tests, Three T20Is, and Three ODIs) |
| 🏏 Venues: | Different stadiums across Pakistan |
| 🗓️ Dates: | Sunday, October 12 to Saturday, November 8, 2025 |
Bookmakers for international cricket consider Pakistan slight favorites heading into the Lahore Test. Let’s have a look at the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka odds:
South Africa last came to Pakistan in 2021, but it wasn’t a pleasant experience for them as the home side won both Tests. |However, the Proteas whitewashed Pakistan at home a few months back, and will look to replicate that success again.
Since we are not discussing PAK vs SA cricket T20I betting predictions or the ODIs, we will only focus on South Africa’s previous red ball adventures in Pakistan. The Proteas first came to Pakistan for a Test series in 1997, with cult hero Hansie Cronje leading the side.
After stalemates in Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura, the series went down to Faisalabad, where South Africa triumphed in a cagey, low-scoring encounter.
Pakistan’s 92 all-out in pursuit of 146 – with Pollock taking 5 for 37 – handed the visitors victory. But six years later, Pakistan had their moment, easing to an eight-wicket win in Lahore before sharing the spoils in Faisalabad.
South Africa didn’t return until 2007, when they claimed a 1-0 win – their last series in Pakistan before making the trip again in 2021. In between, South Africa played two away series against Pakistan in UAE.
Overall, the head-to-head record between these sides suggests a fairly competitive rivalry. That’s why the odds look so close (and making betting predictions for cricket when these two teams are involved is always tricky). Chances are the PAK vs SA cricket T20I betting predictions will also look the same when the odds for those games come out.
Here are the last five fixtures between South Africa and Pakistan in the red-ball format:
Should Pakistan be considered favorites in 2025 cricket PAK vs SA betting picks? Shan Masood’s men hosted West Indies earlier this year and drew the series 1-1. They toured South Africa before that, and lost 2-0.
South Africa made sweeping changes for their July series against neighbours Zimbabwe, but the results were nothing out of the ordinary – two big wins. Pakistan should be a more difficult challenge, but South Africa have called in the cavalry for this assignment.
Now, let’s begin our PAK vs SA cricket betting tips discussion for the first Test. We will talk about the potential outcome of the match, first.
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South Africa captain Aidan Makram knows the intense challenge that awaits for his team in Pakistan. “Ultimately, if it’s going to be extreme like it was in the English series, then it’s going to be difficult for both teams from a batting point of view,” he said ahead of the series.
England experienced how difficult the conditions can become in Pakistani pitches, and like the English, South Africans don’t have surfaces that can behave similarly.
Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi and Faisal Akram headline a spin-heavy Pakistan squad. The conditions should favor the hosts, and with South Africa missing their regular skipper Temba Bavuma, it’s hard to see them settling easily. All signs point to Pakistan as the safest option to bet on Pakistan vs South Africa 2025 cricket.
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Bavuma will be a big miss for the away side, but Tony de Zorzi can prove to be a worthy replacement. “He played incredibly well in Bangladesh and scored big runs there, where it was also quite challenging,” Makram said about the left-hander.
De Zorzi scored a brilliant 177 against a formidable Bangladeshi spin attack in Chattogram last year. He will face a similar challenge in Lahore, and we believe he will produce another impressive display on a sun-continental pitch.
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It was a tight call between Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, but the left-arm spinner got the nod. The numbers are nearly identical – Ali has 36 wickets in his last four Tests to Khan’s 34 – yet Ali’s style could trouble South Africa’s aggressive top order.
His command of flight and drift, particularly against front-foot players, might make him especially dangerous in Lahore.
For our final 2025 cricket PAK vs SA betting picks, we’re tipping Pakistan to have a winning start to the series and Noman Ali to take the most wickets among Pakistani bowlers.
