February 7, 2025: Temba Bavuma’s South Africa cricket team arrived in Lahore on Friday for the highly anticipated ODI tri-series against New Zealand and Pakistan. The team’s arrival was shared on Pakistan Cricket’s official X handle, where a video of the Proteas landing in Lahore was posted.
South Africa’s white-ball coach, Rob Walter, had announced the 12-man squad on Wednesday for their opening match, which includes Gerald Coetzee, who has recovered from an injury he sustained during South Africa’s match against Sri Lanka in November 2024. The squad includes six uncapped players, including Meeka-eel Prince, Gideon Peters, Eathan Bosch, and Mihali Mpongwana, all looking to make their mark in the international cricket scene. While Matthew Breetzke has already played in Test matches and T20Is, Senuran Muthusamy has featured in four Tests.
The tri-series kicks off with New Zealand playing Pakistan on February 8 at Gaddafi Stadium. South Africa will play their first match of the series against New Zealand on February 10. Following the initial two games in Rawalpindi, the action will move to Karachi for the South Africa vs. Pakistan match on February 12. The final of the series will take place on February 14, just before the ICC Champions Trophy begins on February 19.
As for South Africa’s squad, Temba Bavuma will lead the team, supported by players such as Eathan Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Junior Dala, Wiaan Mulder, and others. Following the SA20 league in South Africa, players like Keshav Maharaj and Heinrich Klaasen will join the squad for the remainder of the series. This series is seen as important preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy, which will see the world’s top cricketing nations competing.
This exciting tri-series between South Africa, New Zealand, and Pakistan will provide an opportunity for the teams to sharpen their skills ahead of the bigger tournament, bringing fans some thrilling cricket action.