Following a disappointing Asia Cup campaign, Pakistan are eyeing a reset as they prepare to face South Africa in a two-match Test series. The opening Test is set to begin on Sunday, October 12, at Lahore’s iconic Gaddafi Stadium, where Pakistan will host the reigning World Test Champions.
In a bid to lift the team’s morale, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi paid a visit to the stadium ahead of the series opener. Accompanied by Director of High-Performance Centre Aqib Javed, Naqvi met the players, shared words of encouragement, and was seen congratulating spinner Abrar Ahmed, who recently got married in Karachi. The PCB chief also exchanged pleasantries with members of the South African team management during his visit.
“My Full Support Is With You” — Naqvi Backs Masood’s Men
Naqvi’s visit came at a crucial juncture for the Shan Masood-led side, which finished at the bottom of the previous World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with only five wins in 14 matches and a PCT of 27.98. Pakistan’s struggles were further highlighted by their Asia Cup 2025 final loss to India, marking their third defeat against their arch-rivals in the tournament.
Encouraging the players to bounce back stronger, Naqvi told the leadership group,
“𝑴𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂.”
He assured captain Shan Masood and coach Azhar Mahmood full operational autonomy over team decisions, emphasizing trust in their judgment.
Pakistan Eye Fresh Start in WTC 2025–27 Cycle
Pakistan will be keen to begin the new WTC 2025–27 cycle on a high after losing their last red-ball series to the West Indies by 120 runs in Multan earlier this year. A positive result against South Africa could help the side regain confidence and momentum after a string of poor performances.
However, Naqvi’s presence also drew attention for other reasons. He remains in the spotlight after reports emerged that he locked the Asia Cup trophy inside the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters in Dubai, instructing staff not to move it without his approval — a move that added another layer of intrigue to his growing influence within Pakistan cricket.
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