October 11, 2025 – Web Desk Lahore (Dunya News): The trophy for the upcoming two-match Test series between Pakistan and South Africa, marking the start of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, was unveiled in a grand ceremony at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore on Saturday.
Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood and South Africa’s stand-in skipper Aiden Markram jointly revealed the silverware, followed by a ceremonial photo shoot with the trophy. The event symbolizes the beginning of both teams’ campaigns in the new WTC edition, with South Africa entering as the defending champions after their triumphant five-wicket victory over Australia in the 2023-25 final at Lord’s.
During the proceedings, Markram, deputizing for regular captain Temba Bavuma (sidelined by a calf strain), toured the NCA museum. Masood personally guided him through Pakistan’s storied cricket history, sharing insights into the nation’s iconic trophies and achievements.
In a pre-series press conference, Masood expressed optimism about facing the Proteas, stating, “South Africa is a champion side, and it’s ideal for us to kick off the Test cycle against them. A strong result here will benefit us moving forward.” He emphasized the team’s intent to claim all 20 wickets in the series, adding, “We can’t fix two years’ worth of issues in one day, but we’ll learn from past mistakes and deliver better outcomes. Winning cricket matches requires adapting to conditions— that’s our focus.”
On squad selection, Masood highlighted the importance of player readiness, noting that domestic cricket was encouraged to keep the team sharp. Regarding key spinner Sajid Khan, he revealed, “Sajid is our main off-spinner, but unfortunately, he came down with the flu. We’ll make a final call based on his recovery.” He also stressed the value of contributions over personal milestones: “Runs depend on conditions—you don’t always need centuries, but meaningful partnerships, even fifties or sixties, are crucial.”
Markram echoed the excitement, saying, “It’s an thrilling start to the new cycle. Playing in Pakistan will be different from home conditions, but we’re prepared to adapt and assess the pitches early.” The Proteas have undergone specialized training to counter expected spin-friendly surfaces and lower seam movement.
The first Test gets underway on Sunday, October 12, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, followed by the second in Rawalpindi starting October 20. Pakistan’s 16-member squad includes: Shan Masood (c), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
South Africa’s lineup features Aiden Markram (c), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj (second Test only), Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, and Kyle Verreynne.
