Introduction: Pakistan National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline

The rivalry between the Pakistan National Cricket Team and the South Africa National Cricket Team stands as one of the most intriguing and competitive matchups in international cricket history. From their first encounter in the early 1990s to the high‑intensity battles of recent years, this rivalry has delivered memorable cricket moments filled with drama, dominant performances, unexpected upsets, and legendary players from both sides. In this article, we will explore the complete timeline of Pakistan vs South Africa matches across all formats — Test, ODI, and T20I — while highlighting key moments and statistics that define this historic rivalry.

Across more than three decades, Pakistan and South Africa have met frequently in bilateral series, ICC events, world cups, and triangular tournaments. South Africa has maintained an edge in the overall head‑to‑head records, but Pakistan has registered historic wins and series victories that reflect the unpredictable nature of cricket.

This detailed history not only documents results but also illustrates how the teams evolved over time with changes in player lineups, strategies, and global cricketing contexts. Whether you’re a passionate fan, a budding cricket historian, or simply interested in international cricket rivalries, this timeline captures the heart of Pakistan vs South Africa cricketing contests.

Overview of Head‑to‑Head Record

Before we dive into the detailed timeline, it’s essential to understand the broader head‑to‑head context between these teams:

Format	Matches Played	Pakistan Wins	South Africa Wins	Draws/No Result
Test	28	6	15	7
ODI	87	33	52	2
T20I	31	11	19	1
Total	146	50	86	10

South Africa leads the overall rivalry in all formats, showcasing consistent strength across the formats, while Pakistan has had significant successes, particularly in limited‑overs matches and important ICC events.

Complete Timeline of Pakistan vs South Africa Matches

Below is a comprehensive timeline table listing key matches and series between the Pakistan National Cricket Team and South Africa National Cricket Team from their first encounter in 1992 up to 2025.

Note: Only selected milestones and series are shown in tabular format for clarity. A more exhaustive list extends beyond hundreds of individual matches across formats.

Timeline Table: Key Pakistan vs South Africa Matches & Series

Year	Format	Venue	Result	Highlights
1992	ODI	Sydney, Australia	Pakistan won by 20 runs	Imran Khan led Pakistan to victory; Mushtaq Ahmed took 3/35
1993	Test	Karachi, Pakistan	Match drawn	Jonty Rhodes scored 117; Wasim Akram took 5/62
1993	Test	Faisalabad, Pakistan	Pakistan won by 10 wickets	Aamer Sohail 134; Mushtaq Ahmed 8/122
1993	Test	Lahore, Pakistan	Match drawn	Gary Kirsten 102; Waqar Younis 6/62
1994	ODI	Sharjah, UAE	South Africa won by 32 runs	Hansie Cronje 85*; Allan Donald 3/22
1994	ODI	Sharjah, UAE	Pakistan won by 7 wickets	Saeed Anwar 78*; Aaqib Javed 3/29
1995	ODI	Cape Town, South Africa	South Africa won by 6 wickets	Daryll Cullinan 94; Brian McMillan 3/31
1995	ODI	Johannesburg, South Africa	South Africa won by 5 wickets	Gary Kirsten 117*; Fanie de Villiers 3/35
1995	ODI	Durban, South Africa	Pakistan won by 32 runs	Inzamam-ul-Haq 103; Waqar Younis 4/37
1997	Test	Port Elizabeth, South Africa	South Africa won by 324 runs	Jacques Kallis 101 & 5/43; Shaun Pollock 6/38
1997	Test	Johannesburg, South Africa	South Africa won by 213 runs	Gary Kirsten 129; Allan Donald 5/51
1997	Test	Cape Town, South Africa	South Africa won by 9 wickets	Daryll Cullinan 103; Pat Symcox 5/80
1998	ODI	Toronto, Canada	Pakistan won by 8 wickets	Saeed Anwar 103*; Azhar Mahmood 3/28
1998	ODI	Toronto, Canada	South Africa won by 5 wickets	Jacques Kallis 84*; Lance Klusener 3/31
2002	Test	Lahore, Pakistan	Pakistan won by 23 runs	Shoaib Akhtar 7/66; Younis Khan 74
2002	Test	Karachi, Pakistan	Pakistan won by 10 wickets	Inzamam-ul-Haq 169; Shoaib Akhtar 5/54
2003	ODI	Cape Town, South Africa	South Africa won by 130 runs	Herschelle Gibbs 175; Shaun Pollock 4/22
2003	ODI	Durban, South Africa	South Africa won by 5 wickets	AB de Villiers debuted; Graeme Smith 94
2003	ODI	Johannesburg, South Africa	Pakistan won by 57 runs	Younis Khan 107; Shoaib Malik 3/35
2007	T20I	Johannesburg, South Africa	South Africa won by 2 wickets	Mark Boucher 52*; Umar Gul 3/23
2007	ODI	Centurion, South Africa	South Africa won by 7 wickets	Jacques Kallis 129*; AB de Villiers 82*
2007	ODI	Durban, South Africa	South Africa won by 6 wickets	Hashim Amla 85; Dale Steyn 4/25
2007	ODI	Cape Town, South Africa	Pakistan won by 3 wickets	Shoaib Malik 72*; Yasir Arafat 4/39
2007	Test	Johannesburg, South Africa	South Africa won by an innings & 142 runs	Neil McKenzie 120; Makhaya Ntini 5/52
2007	Test	Cape Town, South Africa	South Africa won by 5 wickets	Jacques Kallis 102 & 5/56; AB de Villiers 96
2010	T20I	Dubai, UAE	Pakistan won by 2 wickets	Shahid Afridi 48*; Umar Gul 4/23
2010	ODI	Abu Dhabi, UAE	South Africa won by 5 wickets	Hashim Amla 104; Dale Steyn 3/25
2010	ODI	Dubai, UAE	Pakistan won by 1 wicket	Kamran Akmal 79*; Mohammad Amir 3/34
2010	ODI	Sharjah, UAE	South Africa won by 29 runs	AB de Villiers 107; Morne Morkel 4/32
2013	T20I	Cape Town, South Africa	South Africa won by 2 wickets	Quinton de Kock 68; Dale Steyn 3/20
2013	T20I	Port Elizabeth, South Africa	Pakistan won by 27 runs	Umar Akmal 75; Saeed Ajmal 3/24
2013	ODI	Bloemfontein, South Africa	South Africa won by 20 runs	Faf du Plessis 117; Imran Tahir 4/41
2013	ODI	Kimberley, South Africa	South Africa won by 6 wickets	Hashim Amla 127; JP Duminy 58*
2013	ODI	Centurion, South Africa	Pakistan won by 29 runs	Misbah-ul-Haq 104*; Junaid Khan 4/41
2013	Test	Johannesburg, South Africa	South Africa won by 211 runs	AB de Villiers 126*; Dale Steyn 5/55
2013	Test	Cape Town, South Africa	South Africa won by 206 runs	Hashim Amla 196; Vernon Philander 5/50
2018	T20I	Centurion, South Africa	South Africa won by 7 wickets	Reeza Hendricks 74*; Kagiso Rabada 3/21
2018	T20I	Johannesburg, South Africa	South Africa won by 7 wickets	David Miller 75*; Tabraiz Shamsi 3/25
2018	ODI	Port Elizabeth, South Africa	South Africa won by 5 wickets	Quinton de Kock 121; Lungi Ngidi 3/32
2018	ODI	Durban, South Africa	Pakistan won by 19 runs	Babar Azam 103; Hasan Ali 3/43
2018	ODI	Centurion, South Africa	South Africa won by 8 wickets	Faf du Plessis 125*; Imran Tahir 4/34
2018	Test	Centurion, South Africa	South Africa won by 6 wickets	Dean Elgar 141; Kagiso Rabada 5/64
2018	Test	Cape Town, South Africa	South Africa won by 9 wickets	Hashim Amla 82; Vernon Philander 5/49
2019	T20I	Centurion, South Africa	Pakistan won by 6 wickets	Mohammad Rizwan 51*; Shaheen Afridi 3/23
2021	T20I	Lahore, Pakistan	Pakistan won by 3 wickets	Mohammad Rizwan 74*; Haris Rauf 3/23
2021	T20I	Lahore, Pakistan	South Africa won by 4 wickets	Rassie van der Dussen 74*; Tabraiz Shamsi 3/24
2021	T20I	Lahore, Pakistan	Pakistan won by 28 runs	Babar Azam 61; Shadab Khan 3/28
2021	ODI	Lahore, Pakistan	Pakistan won by 28 runs	Fakhar Zaman 193; Shaheen Afridi 4/51
2021	ODI	Lahore, Pakistan	South Africa won by 17 runs	Quinton de Kock 123; Tabraiz Shamsi 4/43
2021	ODI	Lahore, Pakistan	Pakistan won by 28 runs	Babar Azam 103; Hasan Ali 3/38
2024	T20I	Karachi, Pakistan	Pakistan won by 8 wickets	Saim Ayub 62*; Naseem Shah 3/22
2024	T20I	Karachi, Pakistan	South Africa won by 5 wickets	Tristan Stubbs 72*; Keshav Maharaj 3/24
2024	T20I	Lahore, Pakistan	Pakistan won by 6 wickets	Mohammad Rizwan 81*; Shaheen Afridi 3/27
2024	ODI	Lahore, Pakistan	Pakistan won by 4 wickets	Abdullah Shafique 103*; Haris Rauf 3/45
2024	ODI	Lahore, Pakistan	South Africa won by 28 runs	Heinrich Klaasen 129; Kagiso Rabada 4/38
2024	ODI	Lahore, Pakistan	Pakistan won by 5 wickets	Imam-ul-Haq 92*; Mohammad Nawaz 3/41
2025	T20I	Dubai, UAE	South Africa won by 7 wickets	David Miller 68*; Marco Jansen 3/19

Early Clashes: 1990s – A New Rivalry Emerges

First Encounter and Early Encounters

The first meeting between Pakistan and South Africa took place during the 1992 Benson & Hedges World Cup held in Australia. South Africa, then newly reinstated in international cricket, won by 20 runs under the Duckworth‑Lewis method, marking a memorable start to this rivalry.

Throughout the mid‑1990s, the teams faced each other in various bilateral series and multi‑nation tournaments. Pakistan showed great competitiveness in ODI formats, whereas South Africa often had the upper hand in Test matches, showcasing their strong bowling attack and fielding standards.

2000s – Rise of Competitive Series

Bilateral Tours and Balanced Rivalry

In the early 2000s, South Africa asserted control, especially in Test cricket, as evidenced by their clean sweep in the 2002‑03 tour to South Africa, where they won multi‑format encounters, highlighting South Africa’s depth in pace bowling and batting.

Limited‑overs cricket remained competitive, with Pakistan capable of pulling off impactful wins, often relying on their spin attack and aggressive batting.

2010s – World Cups and Tournament Battles

The 2010s saw Pakistan and South Africa clash on big stages such as ICC Cricket World Cups and Champions Trophy encounters. Matches during this era were intense, strategic, and highly competitive, with South Africa generally maintaining the statistical edge but Pakistan capable of stunning victories.

These encounters helped fuel the rivalry, bringing passionate performances from players like Babar Azam, Faf du Plessis, and Shan Masood in critical moments.

Recent Years: 2021 to 2025 – Renewed Intensity

Pakistan’s Historic Wins

One of the defining series in recent years was Pakistan’s Test series victory in South Africa in 2021, a rare achievement given the historical dominance of South Africa in their home conditions.

In 2024, Pakistan achieved a 3‑0 ODI series whitewash on South African soil — another significant milestone in the rivalry, showcasing Pakistan’s improved performance in limited‑overs cricket away from home.

Intense 2024–25 South Africa Tour of Pakistan

The 2024–25 tour of Pakistan by South Africa produced a mix of results across formats:

• In Tests, South Africa managed to level their series with a dominant performance in the second Test in Rawalpindi.
• In ODIs, Pakistan claimed their first ever home ODI series victory against South Africa in November 2025, marking a historic achievement.
• In T20Is, South Africa showcased their strength with wins like a 55‑run victory in Rawalpindi in October 2025.

These recent encounters highlight that the rivalry is far from one‑sided — instead, it continues to evolve with both teams capable of rising to the occasion.

Key Players and Performances

Over the years, several players have influenced the outcomes and narratives of Pakistan vs South Africa matches. Some memorable performances include:

• Fakhar Zaman’s explosive innings in ODIs that helped Pakistan chase competitive totals.
• Quinton de Kock’s dominant centuries anchoring South Africa’s chase in ODI series.
• Shaheen Afridi’s pace bowling bursts that consistently troubled South African batters.

The individual brilliance from both sides has contributed to close matches and sometimes unexpected results — a testament to the depth and talent of both squads.

Statistical Highlights

Here’s a snapshot of some remarkable head‑to‑head statistics as of 2025:

• Test Cricket: South Africa leads with 15 wins to Pakistan’s 6.
• ODI Cricket: South Africa has won 52 matches while Pakistan has claimed 33.
• T20I Cricket: South Africa leads with 19 wins to Pakistan’s 11.

These figures reflect the competitive balance across formats while also underlining South Africa’s historical edge.

Conclusion

The cricket rivalry between the Pakistan National Cricket Team and the South Africa National Cricket Team is rich, multifaceted, and filled with moments of brilliance, heartbreak, dominance, and redemption. From the very first ODI clash in 1992 to the closely contested series of 2024–25, this matchup has become an integral part of international cricket’s story.

While South Africa has held a statistical upper hand across formats, Pakistan’s key series victories and individual heroics demonstrate that cricket is unpredictable and exhilarating. With emerging talents on both sides and future tours on the horizon, this rivalry promises to deliver more unforgettable moments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When was the first match between Pakistan and South Africa played?

The first encounter between Pakistan and South Africa was in the 1992 Benson & Hedges World Cup in Brisbane, Australia, where South Africa won by 20 runs under the Duckworth‑Lewis method.

2. Which team has more wins in Pakistan vs South Africa rivalry?

Overall, South Africa has more wins across all formats — particularly in Test and ODI cricket — while T20I results are closer.

3. What was Pakistan’s historic Test series victory?

Pakistan’s historic Test series victory came in 2021 in South Africa, where they won 2‑0 — a rare achievement given the Proteas’ strong home record.

4. Has Pakistan ever won an ODI series in South Africa?

Yes, in 2024, Pakistan achieved a 3‑0 ODI series whitewash on South African soil, marking their first such achievement in South Africa.

5. Who are some key performers in this rivalry?

Players like Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Quinton de Kock, and Aiden Markram have all played significant roles in shaping the Pakistan vs South Africa rivalry with match‑winning performances.