The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed former top-order batter Imran Farhat as the batting coach for the upcoming two-match home Test series against South Africa, starting October 12 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
The PCB also confirmed other members of the coaching staff: former Test spinner Abdur Rehman will serve as spin bowling coach, Abdul Majeed will take charge as fielding coach, while Azhar Mahmood continues as the head coach of Pakistan’s red-ball team.
Imran Farhat’s Cricket Career
The 43-year-old Imran Farhat represented Pakistan from 2001 to 2013, playing 40 Test matches and scoring 2,400 runs at an average of 32. His record includes three centuries and 14 half-centuries, making him one of Pakistan’s reliable openers during his time.
Farhat’s appointment marks his return to the national setup in a coaching capacity, as Pakistan looks to strengthen its batting department for a crucial Test campaign.
Key Series in ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 Cycle
This home series against South Africa is a significant one for Pakistan, serving as the first step in their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 journey. Pakistan will face the reigning champions, South Africa, a team known for its formidable pace attack and strong recent form.
Series Schedule and Venues
The first Test match will be played from October 12 to 16 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, followed by the second Test from October 20 to 24 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
This will be South Africa’s first Test tour of Pakistan since January 2021, when they lost the two-match series 2-0 to the hosts.
Upcoming White-Ball Matches
Following the Test series, the two teams will compete in a three-match T20I series from October 28 to November 1. The opening T20 will be held in Rawalpindi, while the next two games will take place at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
The tour will conclude with a three-match ODI series from November 4 to 8 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.
Head-to-Head in Test Cricket
Pakistan and South Africa have faced each other 30 times in Test cricket. South Africa leads the rivalry with 17 wins, while Pakistan has claimed six victories, and seven matches have ended in a draw.
A New Chapter for Pakistan Cricket
With Imran Farhat joining the coaching setup and Azhar Mahmood leading the red-ball unit, Pakistan aims to build a strong foundation for the new Test Championship cycle. The combination of experience, fresh energy, and home advantage could give the team the edge it needs against a world-class South African side.
