Pakistan have launched their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign in spectacular fashion, securing a commanding 93-run victory over South Africa in Lahore to claim second position on the points table with a perfect 100% win percentage. The comprehensive triumph, orchestrated by Noman Ali’s historic ten-wicket match haul, signals Pakistan’s serious championship intentions.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, taking 10/191 in the first Test against South Africa in Lahore, earning Player of the Match honors for his extraordinary performance. The 39-year-old spinner’s match figures represent his third ten-wicket haul in Test cricket, cementing his status as one of Pakistan’s most effective home bowlers.
Noman Ali tore through South Africa’s batting lineup with figures of 4 for 79 in the second innings, complementing his first-innings exploits that had already put Pakistan in a commanding position. His ability to extract sharp turn and bounce from the Gaddafi Stadium pitch proved decisive throughout the match.
While Noman Ali grabbed headlines with his spinning masterclass, Shaheen Afridi joined the charge with a fiery spell of 4 for 33, dismissing South Africa for 183 despite a valiant effort from Dewald Brevis and Ryan Rickelton on a difficult surface. Pakistan’s win ended a 10-match winning streak for Aiden Markram’s side.
Afridi’s four-wicket burst on Day 4 ensured a comprehensive win for the home side, demonstrating his effectiveness even on spin-friendly pitches. His pace variations and reverse swing complemented the spinners’ work perfectly, creating a balanced bowling attack that South Africa couldn’t counter effectively.
After setting South Africa a challenging target of 277 runs, Pakistan’s spinners once again proved unstoppable on a deteriorating Lahore pitch. South Africa’s chase never gained momentum as wickets fell regularly despite brief periods of resistance.
Key contributions came from Imam-ul-Haq (93), Shan Masood (76), Mohammad Rizwan (75), and Salman Ali Agha (93) in Pakistan’s batting efforts that established winning totals. These substantial innings provided Pakistan’s bowlers with sufficient runs to work with on a surface offering increasing assistance to spin.
Pakistan now sit second on the WTC points table, boasting a 100% points percentage (PCT), identical to leaders Australia who have accumulated 36 points from three matches. The Shan Masood-led side secured 12 crucial points from this victory, positioning themselves as serious championship contenders.
South Africa, the defending WTC champions, meanwhile drop to seventh place with zero points from their opening match. This dramatic reversal of fortunes emphasizes how quickly WTC standings can change and the importance of every Test match in the two-year cycle.
Australia leads the championship table with 36 points and 100% win rate from three matches, demonstrating their continued Test cricket dominance. Pakistan’s identical percentage from one match shows their strong start, though maintaining this rate across the full cycle presents significant challenges.
Sri Lanka occupies third position with a 66.67% win rate, while India sits fourth with 61.90% despite having accumulated 52 total points from seven matches. England rounds out the top five with a 43.33% percentage from five Tests played.
Bangladesh, South Africa, West Indies, and New Zealand occupy the bottom positions, with South Africa and West Indies both currently at 0% after their opening fixtures. New Zealand has yet to begin their WTC campaign.
Noman Ali took 10 wickets in the match while Sajid Khan returned with five, meaning 16 of Pakistan’s wickets came from spinners. This overwhelming spin dominance vindicated Pakistan’s strategic decision to prepare turning pitches at home venues.
The effectiveness of Pakistan’s spin attack raises questions about whether South Africa possesses the technical skills necessary to handle quality spin bowling in subcontinental conditions, particularly with a challenging series in India looming on their schedule.
This victory represents Pakistan’s perfect start to the WTC 2025-27 cycle and demonstrates their ability to exploit home conditions effectively. The comprehensive nature of the win sends a clear message to other championship contenders about Pakistan’s competitiveness.
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For South Africa, the defeat exposes vulnerabilities against quality spin bowling that could prove problematic in upcoming Asian tours. Their 10-match winning streak ending in Lahore highlights the significant challenge of succeeding in unfamiliar subcontinental conditions.
Pakistan and South Africa will continue to shape the standings as they face off once more in Rawalpindi starting October 20. With Noman Ali in record-breaking form and Shaheen Afridi rediscovering his rhythm, the Men in Green have sent a clear message to the rest of the WTC contenders—they mean business this cycle.
A second consecutive victory would cement Pakistan’s position at the top of the table and provide substantial momentum for their WTC campaign. Conversely, South Africa must respond emphatically to salvage championship points and restore confidence before subsequent challenging assignments.
The WTC points system rewards consistency across the two-year cycle, making early victories particularly valuable for building qualification buffer. Pakistan’s maximum points from their opening Test provides an excellent foundation, though maintaining this standard across diverse conditions presents ongoing challenges.
Australia’s three consecutive victories demonstrate the template for WTC success—consistent home dominance combined with competitive performances abroad. Pakistan must replicate this formula to sustain championship contention throughout the cycle.
As attention turns to the second Test in Rawalpindi, Pakistan holds all the momentum while South Africa faces the difficult task of bouncing back from comprehensive defeat. The series outcome will significantly influence both teams’ WTC trajectories and championship aspirations for the 2025-27 cycle.
Pakistan’s dream start to their WTC campaign demonstrates that with effective home pitch preparation, quality spin bowling, and disciplined batting, they possess the ingredients necessary for sustained championship contention and potential WTC final qualification.