Win Projections to be updated soon
Lahore, 16 October 2025:
The ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle has once again underlined the unpredictability and competitive balance of Test cricket, with Pakistan’s 93-run victory over reigning champions South Africa in Lahore providing the latest example of why a two-tier system is neither needed nor justified.
The first Test of the two-match series, played at the Gaddafi Stadium from 12 to 15 October, saw Pakistan outclass South Africa with a disciplined bowling performance led by Shaheen Shah Afridi. The left-arm fast bowler exploited reverse swing to remarkable effect, taking four wickets in the second innings to seal the win on the fourth day.
The result carried added significance given that Pakistan entered the series having finished last in the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship standings. Yet, on home soil, they have repeatedly shown their ability to challenge and defeat the world’s best.
In their last five home Tests, Pakistan have registered four victories, including a 2-1 triumph over England after recovering from a loss in Multan. They later won the opening Test of the two-match series against the West Indies in Multan before the visitors levelled the series 1-1.
What has defined Pakistan’s resurgence is a conscious change in approach. The team management has shifted to preparing spin-friendly surfaces, which have brought the best out of spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan. Both have played central roles in Pakistan’s recent home successes.
However, the Lahore Test offered a reminder that Pakistan’s attack remains versatile. On a surface giving purchase to spinners, Shaheen’s mastery of reverse swing, the control of the spinners, ensured Pakistan defended 277 with authority.
The victory over South Africa – the current holders of the ICC World Test Championship mace, highlights the depth and competitiveness that already exist in the longest format. Teams evolve, conditions vary and results fluctuate, the essence of Test cricket lies in that very unpredictability.
Calls for a two-tier system risk diminishing that charm and the opportunities for lower-ranked sides to stage such statements of intent. Pakistan’s performance against South Africa stands as a timely reminder that Test cricket’s beauty lies in its balance and its strength in its surprises.
