Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced its squads for the upcoming tour of Pakistan, introducing fresh leadership roles and confirming the return of Quinton de Kock.
The tour begins on October 12 with two World Test Championship fixtures, followed by three T20Is and three ODIs. The series will run until November 8.
Leadership reshuffle
With Temba Bavuma sidelined by a calf injury, Aiden Markram will lead the Test side. Keshav Maharaj has been included only for the second Test to balance his workload while strengthening the spin department.
For the white-ball formats, CSA has opted for interim captains. David Miller will lead the T20 squad, while Matthew Breetzke will take charge of the ODIs. Both appointments are seen as opportunities to test leadership depth on foreign soil.
De Kock’s surprise return
The biggest development is Quinton de Kock’s comeback. The wicketkeeper-batter, who had stepped away from international cricket, has been included in both the ODI and T20 squads. His return is expected to bolster South Africa’s batting firepower.
The tour is also historic for Pakistan, with Faisalabad set to host ODIs after a gap of 17 years.
| Match Type | Date(s) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | Oct 12–16 | Lahore |
| 2nd Test | Oct 20–24 | Rawalpindi |
| 1st T20I | Oct 28 | Rawalpindi |
| 2nd T20I | Oct 30 | Lahore |
| 3rd T20I | Nov 1 | Lahore |
| 1st ODI | Nov 4 | Faisalabad |
| 2nd ODI | Nov 6 | Faisalabad |
| 3rd ODI | Nov 8 | Faisalabad |