Lahore, May 3, 2024 – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the schedule for the Pakistan men’s cricket team’s extensive tour of South Africa slated for December 2024.
This tour marks an intense season for the team, featuring two Test matches, three T20 Internationals, and three One Day Internationals, running from December 10, 2024, to January 7, 2025.
The cricketing action kicks off with the T20I series in Durban, Centurion, and Johannesburg from December 10-14, followed by the ODIs scheduled for December 17-22 across Paarl, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. The highlight of the tour will undoubtedly be the two Tests held at Centurion from December 26-30 and in Cape Town from January 3-7, both of which are integral parts of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.
Following their South African tour, the Pakistan team will barely have time to catch their breath as they return to host a tri-nation ODI tournament featuring New Zealand and South Africa, leading up to the prestigious eight-team ICC Champions Trophy 2025 set to take place in Pakistan.
This tour comes on the heels of a demanding itinerary where the team will wrap up a series in Australia consisting of three ODIs and three T20Is from November 4-18, before heading to South Africa. Prior to their Australian engagements, Pakistan is scheduled to host Bangladesh and England for two and three Test matches respectively, indicating a grueling schedule with seven Tests, a minimum of 10 ODIs, and six T20Is within a six-month period.
This upcoming tour will be Pakistan’s seventh Test visit to South Africa since their first in the 1994-95 season. Their historical performance in South Africa has had its bright spots, notably two Test match wins in the 1997-98 and 2006-07 tours. Memorable performances from these tours include stellar innings by Azhar Mahmood and Saeed Anwar, as well as significant bowling contributions from Mushtaq Ahmed and Shoaib Akhtar in the 1997-98 Durban Test, and a crucial knock by Inzamam-ul-Haq in the 2006-07 Port Elizabeth Test.
In ODI cricket, Pakistan has had a mixed record in recent series held in South Africa, clinching the series in 2013-14 and 2020-21, despite earlier setbacks. The T20I record stands slightly in favor of Pakistan with 6 wins to 5, adding an additional layer of anticipation to the upcoming matches.
This intense schedule not only tests the endurance and skill of the Pakistani squad but also promises thrilling cricket action for fans around the world, as Pakistan looks to strengthen its position in international rankings across all formats.