PAK vs SA 1st ODI Match Prediction, South Africa tour vs Pakistan 2025: Fantasy Tips, Playing 11, Pitch Report & More 

PAK vs SA: After the test and T20I series, Pakistan and South Africa will lock horns in the T20I series, which will start on November 4. The first ODI will be held at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad at 2:30 PM IST on Tuesday. Shaheen Afridi will play his first game as ODI captain. Here are the fantasy cricket tips and other details for this game.

Pakistan Preview

The last two T20Is brought a lot of positives for Pakistan, and they were all over South Africa. The format will be changed, but the players will be almost similar for both sides. That will give the hosts another good chance to start the ODI series with a win. This will also be the first game for Shaheen Afridi leading his country into the ODIs.

• Key Batter: Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman will be two players to watch out for in this game.
• Captaincy: Captain Shaheen Afridi was in incredible form in the final T20I. He will look to start his captaincy debut with another spectacular game.
• Batting Strength: Babar Azam scoring a fifty in the final match must have uplifted the team. Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan will be back, which will strengthen the batting unit even more. These pitches are pretty good for batting, and we might see another highly impressive performance from the hosts.
• Bowling Attack: Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah looked in great rhythm. They will look to set the tone for their team with the new ball. Then, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and Saim Ayub have bowled well in the middle. Not to forget the contribution of Faheem Ashraf with the ball.

South Africa Preview

South Africa had an average performance in the last two matches. They struggled in the power play, and the top order failed in both matches. That will be a challenge for them because their batters failed; their bowlers won’t have enough to work with.

• Batting: Quinton de Kock would be disappointed with the way he got out in the last two T20Is. He is their most experienced player and needs runs at the top. They have good players, but they have not played many games. Their captain, Matthew Breeztke, has played just six ODIs.
• Bowling: Bjorn Fortuin will surely strengthen the spin attack, but it is once again on their batters, who need to score. South Africa have a good bowling unit if they get a chance to bowl with a good score.

Match Details – Pakistan vs South Africa, 1st ODI

Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Pitch and Weather Report

Iqbal Stadium will be the third stadium that will host matches on this tour. The wicket in Faisalabad is favoring the batting side more. This has hosted 16 ODI matches so far. 8 games have been won batting first and as many games won by the chasing side, which shows that the conditions are the same in two innings. At this venue, the average score here is 228.

It will be a clear and bright afternoon in Faisalabad on Tuesday with the highest temperature between 23°C and 25°C and 58 percent humidity.

PAK vs SA Head to Head Record

PAK vs SA Today’s Probable 11

Key Players to Watch Out in Pakistan vs South Africa Match

Top Batters

• Babar Azam (PAK): Babar Azam showed great form in the final T20I and scored a crucial fifty. Him coming back in form will be a big positive for Pakistan.
• Fakhar Zaman (PAK): Fakhar Zaman is back, and he has a point to prove. He will be looking to make an impact in this ODI series.
• Quinton de Kock (SA): Quinton de Kock had two consecutive low scores. But we all know what he brings in ODIs. He can take his team and then play big innings.
• Matthew Breetzke (SA): Matthew Breetzke has an average of 77.83 and a strike rate of 103.10 in ODIs. He is the captain as well and will look to perform anyhow in this game.

Top Bowlers

• Shaheen Afridi (PAK): Shaheen Afridi was bowling with good intensity in the last T20I. Now he is the captain, and we might see him leading from the front.
• Abrar Ahmed (PAK): Abrar Ahmed will have a big role in the middle overs. He is not an easy bowler to pick and takes wickets.
• Bjorn Fortuin (SA): Bjorn Fortuin is back, and he is a very smart bowler. He bowls at different speeds and uses his crease very well.
• Lungi Ngidi (SA): Lungi Ngidi is a genuine wicket-taker in ODIs. He takes a wicket with the new ball and then restricts the batters in the death.

PAK vs SA Match Prediction – Who Will Win?

South Africa have picked up a second-string side for the ODIs, like they did for the T20I series. They don’t have any experience in the batting unit. Apart from Quinton de Kock, no other South African batter has even played 20 ODIs. Meanwhile, De Kock himself will be playing his first ODI since the 2023 ODI World Cup. So, there is nothing in favor of the visitors in the batting unit. Hence, Pakistan will be clear favorites going into this game.

PAK vs SA Match Prediction Scenarios

Disclaimer: This prediction is based on analysis of current form, stats, and pitch conditions. Match outcomes can vary due to on-field factors. Please make your final fantasy picks after checking the toss and playing XIs.