Pakistan vs South Africa T20I 2025: Squad, Babar Azam’s Return & Who’ll Win?

You know that feeling when a team you thought was out of the picture suddenly walks back into the spotlight? That’s exactly what’s happening with Pakistan’s T20 side right now. The three-match T20I series against South Africa is about to start from October 28, 2025 — and this time the stakes are higher because the squad has some interesting changes and comebacks.

In this article I’ll walk you through the full squad, highlight the big return of Babar Azam, show how much impact he can make, assess which side has the edge to win, and give you the low-down on tickets and everything else you need to know. Honestly… there’s more behind the scenes than you might think.

Table of Contents

Squad Breakdown

Let’s start with who’s in and who’s out. Pakistan’s 15-member T20I squad for the series against South Africa (home, Rawalpindi & Lahore) has been announced.
Here are some key names:

Pakistan T20I squad includes:

Salman Ali Agha (c)
Abdul Samad
Abrar Ahmed
Babar Azam – returning
Faheem Ashraf
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
Mohammad Wasim Jnr
Mohammad Salman Mirza
Naseem Shah – returning
Sahibzada Farhan (wk)
Saim Ayub
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Usman Khan (wk)
Usman Tariq (uncapped)
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Moqim.

There’s a clear message here: experienced hands (like Babar, Naseem) are being brought back; new faces (Usman Tariq) are getting opportunities. The management seems to be building for the future while keeping some solidity.

Babar Azam’s Return – What It Means

Here’s the big story: Babar Azam is back. He hasn’t played a T20I since December 2024 and was left out of recent T20 squads.
Coach Mike Hesson confirmed he’ll bat at No. 3 instead of opening — a shift aimed at giving him a more stable platform.

Impact he can have

Experience & calm: Babar gives Pakistan composure at the top/middle. After a period of upheaval, that steadiness helps.
T20 World Cup build-up: With the next T20 World Cup on the horizon, his return signals Pakistan want him locked in. Dawn+1
Challenge & redemption: The coach said Babar was asked to improve his strike-rate and batting against spin before this return. Reuters So there’s an extra motivational edge.

Will he deliver?

In my view, yes—but with caveats. Babar will be under pressure: he needs to score and at a good tempo. If he starts well, Pakistan get a major boost. But if he struggles, the return could raise more questions. It’s a “high‐reward, moderate‐risk” scenario.

Who Has Higher Chances to Win?

Let’s compare the two sides and see where Pakistan stand vs South Africa.

Pakistan – Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

Home advantage: Rawalpindi & Lahore pitches, local crowd.
Balanced squad: Blend of youth + experience.
Return of key players: Babar, Naseem Shah.

Weaknesses:

Some inconsistency in recent T20s.
Pressure on returning players to perform immediately.
Opponent under-rated: South Africa still dangerous.

South Africa – What they bring

While full details of the South African squad weren’t all published in these sources, Pakistan’s coach himself said South Africa are “a very dangerous side”. NDTV Sports That means: watch for surprises. Even if Pakistan are favourites at home, nothing is guaranteed.

My verdict

If I bet, I’d say Pakistan have the slight edge if they start well and Babar & bowlers hit form. If they fumble early, South Africa could pounce. So think of it as Pakistan 55% vs South Africa 45% (just my view).

Tickets, Venues & Other Logistics

Good news: tickets for the series have already gone on sale and shows strong public interest. According to reports, they’re being snapped up quickly. (Though I couldn’t find the exact pricing tiers in these sources, the demand is clear.)

Venues & Schedule:

First T20I: 28 October 2025 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. Dawn
Second & Third: 31 Oct & 1 Nov at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Dawn+1

Tip for fans:
Book early to get good seats. At both grounds, local transport and crowd management can get busy on match days — arrive early. For TV-viewers: expect good coverage. For fantasy players: Babar’s return and new faces like Usman Tariq make interesting picks.

Summary & What to Watch

So here’s the bottom line: Pakistan are entering the series with renewed intent, and the return of Babar Azam is the headline. Along with that, new talent and bowlers returning give them a balanced look. But performance matters — they can’t just rely on names.

What you should watch:

Babar’s batting tempo and shot selection (especially against spin)
How the bowling attack sets the tone early (Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah)
How South Africa respond — if they strike early their chances jump.
Crowd/atmosphere effect: home series means extra pressure and extra boost.

This article will be updated regularly with new insights (injury updates, exact ticket info, pitch reports) as the series approaches. Stay tuned!

Call to Action: Bookmark this page, grab your tickets (if you’re going), and keep an eye on the squad announcements and pre-match analyses. It’s a series you don’t want to miss.