Pakistan vs South Africa, 1st ODI

The opening ODI between Pakistan and South Africa at Iqbal Stadium promises to be an exciting clash as the two cricketing giants kick off South Africa’s 2025 tour of Pakistan. Both teams have shown contrasting forms recently. Pakistan, buoyed by their dynamic batting lineup and lethal bowling attack, have won four of their last six ODIs, displaying strong adaptability in home conditions. South Africa, traditionally strong in powerplays and death overs, have struggled slightly on subcontinent tours but bring a disciplined bowling unit and explosive batsmen to the table. Head-to-head, these teams have met frequently in ODIs, with South Africa holding a slight edge historically, but Pakistan’s advantage at home conditions cannot be overlooked. Key players for Pakistan include the in-form batter Babar Azam who leads from the front with consistency, and Hasan Ali, who has been impactful with the new ball. South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada remain critical for runs and wickets respectively. Strategically, Pakistan will aim to utilize early swing through their pace bowlers on this relatively green pitch, while South Africa will rely on their strong middle order and disciplined line and lengths to restrict scoring on what could be a tricky wicket. Fielding will play a vital role, especially in the middle overs. Overall, this encounter is finely poised with slight home advantage for Pakistan given pitch familiarity and crowd support. #### AI suggested match winner Pakistan: 56%, South Africa: 44%

Given Iqbal Stadium’s tendency for slow pitches with some assistance for seamers early on and moderate bounce later, the first innings score if Pakistan bats first is expected to be around 280-300 runs. Pakistan’s balanced batting lineup combined with good running between the wickets should allow them to post a competitive total. If South Africa bat first, considering their strong middle order but limited experience in these conditions, a score in the region of 270-290 is likely. The pitch might slow down in the final overs, making it challenging to accelerate later, so teams batting first will aim to build solid partnerships upfront to maximize their total.

The pitch at Iqbal Stadium traditionally offers a balanced contest between bat and ball. Historically, the average first-innings score here hovers around 285 runs. Pacers get some movement early on under lights while the surface tends to slow down in the second innings, making run chases less straightforward. Teams batting first have won approximately 55% of matches here, indicating a slight advantage. Weather is expected to be clear with temperatures around 32°C and low humidity, minimizing interruptions. Best records for this ground in Pakistan-South Africa ODIs include Hasan Ali’s 5/24 as best bowling figures and Babar Azam’s 120 as a top batting score. For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada holds the best bowling figures with 4/36 at this venue, and Quinton de Kock scored a memorable 110 here in previous games.

Matches Played	Pakistan Wins	South Africa Wins
35	17	18

Team Recent Performance

Team	Matches Played	Wins	Losses	NR
Pakistan (Last 5 ODIs)	5	3	2	0
South Africa (Last 5 ODIs)	5	2	3	0

Babar Azam (Pakistan) - Currently among the top ODI run-scorers worldwide, his consistency at Iqbal Stadium is impressive, making him pivotal for a strong Pakistan innings.

Hasan Ali (Pakistan) - His mastery over swinging the ball early on home soil positions him as a key wicket-taker in the initial overs.

Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan) - Utilizing pace and bounce expertly, Afridi's recent performances have seen him pick up crucial wickets in the powerplay.

Quinton de Kock (South Africa) - Aggressive at the top, de Kock’s recent form indicates he can provide a brisk start to South Africa’s innings.

Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) - A spearhead in the bowling attack, his ability to dismiss top-order batsmen early is crucial for South Africa.

Temba Bavuma (South Africa) - As a dependable middle-order batsman, Bavuma has anchored innings well in recent matches, providing stability.