PAK vs SA 1st Test Prediction & Betting Tips
Pakistan will bid to add to just two test wins so far in the ICC World Test Championship when they take on South Africa in Karachi. The first match of two tests in this series, it takes place at the National Stadium between January 26-30 and the live action starts at 10:00 each morning.
South Africa have three wins from nine tests so far, winning one series but losing two others to leave them off the pace of the top teams in the ICC World Test Championship. This series is a warm-up for three further tests against Australia, but defeats to India and England have left them down the table.
Pakistan are in a similar position, losing three series away from home, but their two test wins have come on home soil in the Championship so far and that bodes well as they look to once again utilise home advantage at Karachi, one of their favourite grounds in recent years.
PAK vs SA Live streaming
Live TV: PTV Sports, SuperSport, Sky Sports Cricket, Sony Sports
Live streaming: Fancode
PAK vs SA Toss Prediction
With a good batting wicket, Karachi is surely a bat-first ground.
Weather Report
Karachi should be sunny and dry throughout.
Pitch Condition
A favourite ground of the hosts, Karachi is excellent for batting.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Pakistan vs South Africa (First Test).
Pakistan Team News & Playing 11
PAK Team News
Pakistan have named a 17-man squad for the first test, with Shadab Khan the main absentee due to the injury he suffered against New Zealand last month. From the defeats to New Zealand, Babar Azam should be back to bolster the batting.
PAK Key Players
- Babar Azam: Missed in the series against New Zealand, he is back and adds a significant upgrade in quality to the batting line-up.
- Azhar Ali: Scored 141* in the third test against England and then 93 in the second test against New Zealand – he just needs more consistency.
- Shaheen Afridi: Took six wickets in a tough test series against New Zealand and will look to add to his 41 wickets in 13 tests in this series.
PAK Team Form
Pakistan are unbeaten at home in the ICC Test World Championship so far this season, but away from home they have struggled. They lost 2-0 to New Zealand last time out, suffering two heavy defeats as they struggled with both bat and ball.
Pakistan Predicted Playing 11
Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Haris Sohail, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
South Africa Team News & Playing 11
SA Team News
South Africa have brought a large squad to Pakistan with them, with only Ottniel Baartman ruled out from the original squad selection. Quinton de Kock will lead the team, even though Faf du Plessis is back in the touring party.
SA Key Players
- Quinton de Kock: A quiet series against Sri Lanka but his quality his undoubted as he prepares for his 50th test. He did still manage to take 12 catches behind the wicket too.
- Faf du Plessis: Hit 199 in an excellent 276-ball innings in the first test against Sri Lanka last month to prove he still has plenty to offer.
- Anrich Nortje: His fiery 6-56 against Sri Lanka ensured South Africa were well on top of the second test earlier this month and secured a comfortable win.
SA Team Form
South Africa were in dominant form at home to Sri Lanka last time out, winning by an innings and then by ten wickets in the second game. They have only won one other game in the ICC World Test Championship so far, however, during a 3-1 series loss to England.
South Africa Predicted Playing 11
Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock (c, wk), Temba Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Pakistan vs South Africa Head to Head
Pakistan have only ever won four tests against South Africa, losing 15 and drawing seven. Pakistan did win their last proper home series against South Africa, however, in 2003. Since then, South Africa have won the last two, but both were in the UAE, and this is the first Pakistan ‘home’ series since 2013.
PAK vs SA Head to Head Stats in Tests
Matches Played |
PAK Won |
SA Won |
Tie |
Draw |
26 |
4 |
15 |
0 |
7 |
7
Pakistan vs South Africa Betting Odds
Pakistan’s home advantage should not be under-estimated. They are narrow favourites for this series.
Pakistan Bet365 Odds
- PAK to win the match: Pakistan are 2.10 favourites to win with Bet365.
- PAK top batsman: Babar Azam is back in the Pakistan squad and can be backed at 3.40 to be their top team batsman in the first innings of this game. Azhar Ali is 3.75, while Abid Ali is 5.00. Mohammad Rizwan is 8.00 down the order, which could be a good outside bet.
- PAK top team bowler: Shaheen Afridi is 3.75 to be Pakistan’s top first-innings bowler, ahead of Haris Rauf at 4.33. Yasir Shah, the spinner, is 4.00 with Bet365.
South Africa Bet365 Odds
- SA to win the match: South Africa are 2.75 outsiders to win with Bet365. The draw is 4.50 with Bet365.
- SA top team batsman: Faf du Plessis is 4.00 with Bet365 to be Pakistan’s top first innings batsman, while Dean Elgar is 4.50 after his good form against Sri Lanka too. Quinton de Kock can be backed at 5.50 as he looks to set the tone at the top of the order.
- SA top team bowler : Kagiso Rabada is 3.40 to be South Africa’s top team bowler with Bet365, while Anrich Nortje is 4.50 after starting well against Sri Lanka in the last test. Lungi Ngidi is 5.00, while Keshav Maharaj is just 3.60.
🏆 Pakistan vs South Africa Prediction
Pakistan have home advantage and, while their record against South Africa is not good, they did beat them in their last test series against them in Pakistan. It is a proud heritage they are looking to continue now they are back on home soil.
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