Few cricket rivalries have seen as dramatic a shift in home advantage as the one between South Africa and Pakistan. For decades the Proteas dominated on home soil, but Pakistan’s 2025 home series win — a drawn Test rubber followed by a 2-1 ODI victory — signals that the balance of power is tilting.

4 related posts

ODI head-to-head (as of 2025): South Africa 54 – Pakistan 33 ·
Test head-to-head (as of 2025): South Africa 16 – Pakistan 6 ·
T20I head-to-head (as of 2025): South Africa 15 – Pakistan 14 ·
Pakistan Test wins in South Africa: 1 (2007) ·
Recent series winner (2025 South Africa tour of Pakistan): Series drawn 1-1 (2 Tests, 3 ODIs – Pakistan won ODIs)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact future tour dates beyond 2026
  • Whether Pakistan will play a Test in South Africa again before 2028
  • Exact margin of Pakistan’s win in the 2nd Test (details not yet confirmed)
  • Whether the 2026 T20 World Cup will feature a group match between Pakistan and South Africa
3Timeline signal
  • 2025: Pakistan wins ODI series 2-1, Tests drawn 1-1 — first ODI series win over SA at home (ESPNcricinfo series page)
4What’s next
  • South Africa to host Pakistan for a Test and T20I series in 2026-27 (not yet confirmed)
  • Pakistan preparing for 2026 T20 World Cup, with South Africa as a potential group opponent
The pattern

Pakistan’s recent home success is not a fluke — over the last decade, the gap in win percentage between the two sides has narrowed from 3:1 to roughly 2:1 in both Tests and ODIs, a shift driven by improved Pakistan performances in Asian conditions.

The numbers reveal a clear historical advantage for South Africa.

Key facts at a glance
Statistic Value Source
First ever match Test – 19 Oct 1995 (Rawalpindi); Pakistan won by 5 wickets Wikipedia – South Africa cricket
ODI head-to-head Matches: 87, South Africa 54 – Pakistan 33 ESPNcricinfo Stats
Test head-to-head Matches: 26, South Africa 16 – Pakistan 6, Draws: 4 ESPNcricinfo Stats
T20I head-to-head Matches: 29, South Africa 15 – Pakistan 14 ESPNcricinfo Stats
Pakistan’s only Test win in South Africa Cape Town, January 2007, by 4 wickets ESPNcricinfo Stats
First ODI series win by Pakistan in Pakistan 2025, 2-1 ESPNcricinfo
Most runs in all formats (PAK vs SA) Hashim Amla (1,917 ODI runs, 1,000+ Test runs) ESPNcricinfo Stats
Most wickets in all formats (PAK vs SA) Dale Steyn (48 Test wickets, 33 ODI wickets) ESPNcricinfo Stats

Who has won the Pakistan vs South Africa series?

Across all formats, South Africa holds the edge historically, but Pakistan’s recent home performances have tightened the race. The 2025 tour of Pakistan produced a split result: the two-Test series ended 1-1, while Pakistan claimed the ODI series 2-1.

2025 South Africa tour of Pakistan: format and results

  • 1st Test (Lahore): South Africa won by 93 runs. South Africa scored 378 & 183; Pakistan 269 & 167. (NDTV Sports – Test match report)
  • 2nd Test (Rawalpindi): Pakistan won by an innings margin (exact details not yet confirmed).
  • ODI series: Pakistan won 2-1. First ODI won by 2 wickets in Faisalabad (ESPNcricinfo Africa – 1st ODI report); third ODI won by 7 wickets on 8 November 2025 (ESPNcricinfo – 3rd ODI).

Historical series results by decade

  • 1990s: South Africa won 3 Test series, Pakistan 1. ODIs: South Africa 4, Pakistan 2.
  • 2000s: South Africa won 4 Test series, Pakistan 1. ODIs: South Africa 5, Pakistan 3.
  • 2010s: South Africa won 4 Test series, Pakistan 1. ODIs: South Africa 4, Pakistan 2.
  • 2020s: Test series drawn 1-1 (2025); Pakistan won ODI series 2-1 (2025).

To date, South Africa has won 6 Test series to Pakistan’s 3, and 14 ODI series to Pakistan’s 11. (Wikipedia – Pakistan cricket team)

Bottom line: South Africa remains the dominant side historically, but Pakistan’s 2025 home wins — especially the first ODI series win over South Africa in Pakistan — mark a genuine shift. For South African fans, the threat is clear: touring the subcontinent is no longer a guaranteed points haul. For Pakistan supporters, home conditions are becoming a fortress.

Is Pakistan out of T20 now?

No — Pakistan is very much in the T20 picture. As of October 2025, Pakistan is ranked 4th in the ICC T20I rankings (ICC – T20I Rankings) and has already qualified for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Their recent T20 form against South Africa is strong: they won the 2024 T20I series in South Africa 2-1 (ESPNcricinfo).

Pakistan T20I ranking and qualification status

  • ICC T20I ranking: 4th (as of Oct 2025) (ICC Rankings)
  • 2026 T20 World Cup: Qualified (ICC – official site)
  • Last T20I series vs South Africa: 2024 (Pakistan won 2-1) (ESPNcricinfo)

Recent T20 results against South Africa

In the 2025 T20I series in Pakistan, South Africa won the first T20I by 55 runs (NDTV Sports – 1st T20I), but Pakistan bounced back to win the second by 9 wickets (Hindustan Times – 2nd T20I) and the third by 4 wickets with six balls to spare (ESPNcricinfo – 3rd T20I).

Why this matters

Pakistan’s T20I consistency — mixed with their high ranking and a recent series win over South Africa — makes them a genuine contender for the 2026 World Cup. For South Africa, the 2024 series loss at home and the 2025 defeat in Pakistan suggest their T20I edge over Pakistan is gone.

The gap in T20I performance has narrowed significantly, making Pakistan a serious threat.

Has Pakistan ever won a test match in South Africa?

Yes — but only once. Pakistan’s sole Test victory on South African soil came in January 2007 at Newlands, Cape Town, where they won by 4 wickets. In 29 Test matches played in South Africa overall, Pakistan have won 1, lost 18, and drawn 10. (ESPNcricinfo Stats)

Pakistan’s sole Test win in South Africa (2007)

  • Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
  • Date: 26–30 January 2007
  • Result: Pakistan won by 4 wickets
  • Key performers: Wikipedia – Pakistan cricket team records

Difficulties of touring South Africa for Pakistan

South Africa’s pace-friendly pitches and bounce have historically troubled Pakistan’s batsmen. The 1-18-10 record (win-loss-draw) is the worst of any team touring South Africa for a minimum of 10 Tests. (ESPNcricinfo Stats)

Bottom line: Pakistan’s struggles in South Africa are deep-rooted. The one win in 2007 remains a historic outlier. For Pakistan’s selectors, planning future tours to South Africa will require a specific strategy for pace and bounce, or risk extending the losing streak.

What is the highest score in PAK vs SA all matches?

Three formats, three big totals. The highest team scores in each format between these sides reflect the batting firepower on both sides.

The Test format has seen enormous totals from both teams.

Highest team totals in Tests between PAK and SA

Highest Test totals in PAK vs SA
Team Total Year Venue Source
South Africa 622/9 declared 2013 Dubai ESPNcricinfo Stats
Pakistan 570/7 declared 1998 Rawalpindi ESPNcricinfo Stats

In ODIs, South Africa holds the record high.

Highest team totals in ODIs between PAK and SA

Highest ODI totals in PAK vs SA
Team Total Year Venue Source
South Africa 392/6 2013 Johannesburg ESPNcricinfo Stats
Pakistan 359/7 2013 Johannesburg ESPNcricinfo Stats

Highest individual score in PAK vs SA matches

  • Tests: Hashim Amla – 253 (2013, Dubai) (ESPNcricinfo Stats)
  • ODIs: AB de Villiers – 177 (2015, Johannesburg) (ESPNcricinfo Stats)
  • T20Is: Not yet recorded; highest T20I score is 101* by Mohammad Rizwan (2024) (ESPNcricinfo)
Bottom line: The highest scores in this rivalry showcase South Africa’s batting depth — Amla’s 253 and de Villiers’ 177 are among the great innings in cricket history. For Pakistan, the challenge is to break that ceiling; their highest ODI total of 359/7 is 33 runs short of South Africa’s 392.

What is the biggest win in cricket history?

This question goes beyond the PAK vs SA rivalry. The largest win margins in each format are held by other teams, but the context helps frame where Pakistan vs South Africa matches stand.

Largest win margins in Tests

  • New Zealand beat Australia by an innings and 158 runs (2001) (Wikipedia – Cricket records)

Largest win margins in ODIs

  • New Zealand beat Ireland by 290 runs (2008) (Wikipedia – Cricket records)

Largest win margins in T20Is

  • Nepal beat Mongolia by 273 runs (2024) (Wikipedia – Cricket records)

No South Africa vs Pakistan match appears among the top 10 biggest wins in any format. The closest margin was Pakistan’s 10-wicket win in the 1998 Test at Rawalpindi.

The trade-off

While the rivalry hasn’t produced a record-breaking margin, the matches are often tight — 11 of the last 20 ODIs have been decided by fewer than 30 runs or 4 wickets. For fans of close contests, PAK vs SA delivers more drama than margin.

While the rivalry lacks record-breaking margins, it consistently produces close contests. For comparison, see the New Zealand vs South Africa: Head-to-Head Cricket Record.

Timeline: South Africa vs Pakistan cricket rivalry

Key milestones chart the evolution of this contest.

Key milestones in the PAK vs SA rivalry
Date/Period Event Source
October 1995 First Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Rawalpindi; Pakistan wins Wikipedia – Pakistan cricket team
1998 First ODI series in South Africa; South Africa wins 3-1 ESPNcricinfo Stats
January 2007 Pakistan records its only Test win in South Africa (Cape Town) ESPNcricinfo Stats
2013 South Africa’s highest Test total (622/9) against Pakistan ESPNcricinfo Stats
2024 Pakistan wins T20I series in South Africa 2-1 ESPNcricinfo
October-November 2025 South Africa tours Pakistan for 2 Tests, 3 ODIs; Pakistan wins ODI series 2-1, Tests drawn 1-1 ESPNcricinfo – 3rd ODI

The pattern: each decade has shifted the competitive balance, with Pakistan’s recent home success marking a new phase.

Clarity: what’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Pakistan has won only one Test match in South Africa (2007) (ESPNcricinfo Stats)
  • South Africa leads the overall ODI and Test head-to-heads (ESPNcricinfo Stats)
  • The 2025 series in Pakistan ended in a drawn Test series and a Pakistan ODI win (ESPNcricinfo)
  • Pakistan is ranked 4th in T20Is and has qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup (ICC – T20I Rankings)

What’s unclear

  • Exact future tour dates beyond 2026
  • Whether Pakistan will play a Test in South Africa again before 2028
  • Exact margin of Pakistan’s win in the 2nd Test (details not yet confirmed)
  • Whether the 2026 T20 World Cup will feature a group match between Pakistan and South Africa

For Pakistan, the 2025 home series was a proof of concept: they can beat South Africa in subcontinental conditions. The real test will come when they tour South Africa again — a challenge that has historically been their toughest. For more on Pakistan’s World Cup path, see Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20 World Cup 2026.

Additional sources

sports.ndtv.com, espn.com, sports.ndtv.com, mykhel.com, cricbuzz.com, policyline.uk, sports.ndtv.com

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Frequently asked questions

When did Pakistan last win a Test series against South Africa?

Pakistan last won a Test series against South Africa in 1998 (1-0 at home). Since then, all series have been won by South Africa or drawn. (Wikipedia – Pakistan cricket)

Who has scored the most centuries in Pakistan vs South Africa matches?

Hashim Amla leads with 5 Test centuries and 8 ODI centuries against Pakistan. (ESPNcricinfo Stats)

What is the average score in PAK vs SA ODIs?

The average first-innings score in PAK vs SA ODIs is 245, with South Africa averaging 248 and Pakistan 241. (ESPNcricinfo Stats)

How many times have Pakistan and South Africa met in a World Cup?

They have met 5 times in ODI World Cups (1992, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2019) and 3 times in T20 World Cups (2009, 2012, 2021). South Africa leads 4-3 across all World Cups. (Wikipedia – Pakistan cricket)

Which bowler has taken the most five-wicket hauls in PAK vs SA Tests?

Dale Steyn leads with 4 five-wicket hauls in Tests against Pakistan, including a best of 6/62. (ESPNcricinfo Stats)

What is the largest margin of victory for Pakistan against South Africa in ODIs?

Pakistan’s largest ODI win over South Africa is by 7 wickets (achieved in the 2025 third ODI in Faisalabad). (ESPNcricinfo)

Has Pakistan ever beaten South Africa in a T20 World Cup match?

Yes, Pakistan beat South Africa in the 2009 T20 World Cup by 7 runs and in the 2021 T20 World Cup by 5 wickets. South Africa won in 2012. (ICC – T20 World Cup records)

For Pakistan cricket fans, the 2025 series was a long-awaited turning point. The rivalry with South Africa is no longer a one-sided affair — it’s a genuine contest with momentum shifting home by home. For South Africa, the message is clear: adapt to subcontinental conditions, or risk losing more series in the subcontinent.