Last Updated on 6 months ago by Charbel Coorey

After a drawn Test series and Pakistan victory in the T20Is, attention turns to ODI cricket with a view towards 2027. Pakistan, led now by Shaheen Shah Afridi, are aiming to improve their 50-over cricket after very disappointing performances in the Champions Trophy and West Indies earlier this year.

The hosts take on a South Africa team missing a number of first-team players. However, they welcome back Quinton de Kock who previously reversed his decision to retire from ODIs. The keeper-batsman will provide some much-needed experience in a squad that does include plenty of exciting talent including Dewald Brevis and Corbin Bosch.

Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad hosts its first ODI since way back in 2008. Pakistan beat Bangladesh by seven wickets over 17 years ago. Thankfully the weather will be nice and clear, and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s team are aiming for a happy homecoming to Faislabad.

PAK vs SA 1st ODI 2025 Possible Playing XIs

Abdullah Shafique and Hasan Ali, who both played in Pakistan’s last ODI, are not in the squad.

Pakistan: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Saim Ayub, 3. Babar Azam, 4. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5. Salman Agha, 6. Hasan Nawaz, 7. Hussain Talat/Faheem Ashraf, 8. Mohammad Nawaz, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), 10. Naseem Shah, 11. Abrar Ahmed

Sinethemba Qeshile has been in good form recently and is a chance of earning an ODI debut.

South Africa: 1. Tony de Zorzi, 2. Quinton de Kock (wk), 3. Matthew Breetzke (c), 4. Sinethemba Qeshile/Donovan Ferreira, 5. Dewald Brevis, 6. Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 7. Corbin Bosch, 8. George Linde, 9. Bjorn Fortuin, 10. Lungi Ngidi, 11. Nandre Burger

Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad Pitch Report and Weather

As mentioned, this will be the first ODI on this ground since 2008. Based on the List A matches last year, Faisalabad is typically a high-scoring ground where the team batting first often wins.

In 17 List A matches across the Champions Cup and President’s Cup Grade-I (1-Day) in October 2024, the average first innings score was 286.71 at a run rate of 5.88. The team batting first won 12 matches. No team successfully chased 200+ in these matches.

A warm and clear day is forecast with a top temperature of 30 degrees. There is the possibility of dew in the second innings.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for PAK vs SA 1st ODI 2025: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicket-keeper picks:

• Quinton de Kock has endured a poor return to international cricket with scores of 1, 23, 7 and 0 in T20Is against Namibia and Pakistan. However, he can benefit from the extra time in ODIs in good batting conditions.
• In 16 ODIs against Pakistan, de Kock has 590 runs at an average of 36.87 and strike rate of 88.19.
• Mohammad Rizwan will be proactive in the middle order. Pakistan’s number four has 343 ODI runs against the Proteas at an average of 42.87 and strike rate of 88.86. He hit 122* in the last meeting.

Key batter picks:

• Babar Azam is looking to build on confidence from the T20I series. He struck scores of 76 (79) and 104* (100) on this ground in the 2024 Champions One Day Cup.
• Babar also has an excellent ODI record against South Africa: 15 inns, 744 runs, avg. 57.23, SR 85.32. This includes six fifties and a century.
• Matthew Breetzke had a horror T20I series, but he returns to a format he has had great success in this year (467 runs, avg. 77.83, four fifties, one hundred). This includes scores of 150 and 83 in two ODIs in Pakistan.

Top all-rounder picks:

• Saim Ayub is picked in 83.99% of Dream11 teams as he can provide fireworks against an inexperienced Proteas attack. Ayub is a potential captaincy option in Dream11 if Pakistan bats second.
• Corbin Bosch is a hit-the-deck bowler who will look to trouble the Pakistani middle and lower order in particular. Bosch was in the runs and wickets in the T20I series, and he offers excellent value from a fantasy point of view.
• Mohammad Nawaz dismissed de Zorzi, Brevis and Ferreira during the T20Is. He will get through his overs and provides a valuable batting option down the order.

Key bowler picks:

• Shaheen Shah Afridi has a good matchup against Quinton de Kock. Not only has he dismissed him in T20Is, but he has also dismissed him three times in ODIs (84 balls, 87 runs). Afridi has also dismissed Tony de Zorzi twice in 53 balls (57 runs).
• Lungi Ngidi is the experienced player in South Africa’s bowling lineup, but has some poor matchups (see below). Can he overcome them? His changes of pace can bring about some wicket-taking opportunities.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Nandre Burger went wicketless in the ODIs, but he is worth considering as he bowls in the crunch overs.
• Abrar Ahmed is worth a pick if Pakistan bowl first. He can find spin either way and challenge and inexperienced Proteas lineup.
• Tony de Zorzi has been in decent form of late and can benefit from good batting conditions at the top of the order.
• Salman Agha struck 134 (103) in a man of the match performance against South Africa earlier this year.
• Dewald Brevis made starts in the final two T20Is and will look to carry on here. He is a good spin-hitter and these batting conditions can suit his style.

Other Stats and Important Matchups

• Head-to-head: Matches 87, Pakistan 34, South Africa 52, N/R 1.
• Saim Ayub averages 60.1 batting second compared to 36.2 batting first in ODIs.
• Lungi Ngidi vs Fakhar Zaman in ODIs: 44 balls, 59 runs, no dismissal.
• Lungi Ngidi vs Babar Azam in ODIs: 52 balls, 63 runs, no dismissal.
• Corbin Bosch vs Mohammad Rizwan in ODIs: 25 balls, 35 runs, no dismissal.
• Corbin Bosch has enjoyed success against Babar Azam in T20Is (14 balls, 21 runs, two wickets). Can he do the same in ODIs?

PAK vs SA 1st ODI 2025 Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams. 

Option 1:

Option 2:

PAK vs SA 1st ODI 2025 Match Prediction: Who will win?

Pakistan to win.

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All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo and Cricmetric.