LAHORE — Pakistan are gearing up with confidence and determination ahead of their upcoming two-match Test series against World Test Championship (WTC) titleholders South Africa, interim red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood said on Thursday.
The series, which kicks off at Lahore’s iconic Gaddafi Stadium on Monday before moving to Rawalpindi on October 20, marks the start of Pakistan’s 2025–27 WTC campaign a fresh opportunity after finishing at the bottom in the previous cycle.
Reflecting on the team’s recent home performances, Azhar said Pakistan had learned valuable lessons from past series victories on turning tracks. The team’s strategy of preparing rank turners brought them success notably their first home Test series win since 2021 when they defeated England 2-1 and drew 1-1 with the West Indies.
However, Azhar hinted at a slightly different approach this time around.
“It won’t spin like it did during the England and West Indies series,” he told reporters. “There will be turn, but it’ll develop gradually as the match goes on. We’ve found a winning formula at home if we stay disciplined and stick to our process, I’m confident we’ll go a long way in this Championship.”
Pakistan’s last Test outing came in January, and acknowledging the players’ limited red-ball exposure since then, Azhar explained that preparations had started early. A 30-day intensive training camp at the National Cricket Academy focused on sharpening skills, especially against spin, and building the team’s mental and tactical readiness.
“It’s not about them it’s about us,” Azhar emphasized. “We’ve worked hard to fix our weaknesses and improve our consistency. The key is to win sessions, manage situations smartly, and focus on our own game. South Africa are a strong side, but if we execute our plans, we can beat anyone.”
Azhar revealed that the team had specifically practiced strategies to handle South Africa’s pace attack including Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and their spinners while also fine-tuning bowling combinations to ensure Pakistan could take 20 wickets in home conditions.
Pakistan’s selection committee has opted for a spin-heavy squad, with Asif Afridi included as a potential replacement for the experienced Noman Ali. The 38-year-old left-arm spinner, a domestic stalwart with 57 wickets in 198 first-class matches, faced some criticism over his age but Azhar came to his defense.
“He’s not here just to bowl in the nets he’s part of our plans,” Azhar said firmly. “If you look at his record, he’s taken 53 wickets last season and 27 this year that’s 80 wickets in two seasons. Age doesn’t matter when you’re performing at that level. Age is just a number.”
With confidence in his squad and clarity in his strategy, Azhar Mahmood believes Pakistan are ready mentally, tactically, and emotionally to take on the world champions.
“We’ve done our homework. We’ve studied their strengths. Now, it’s about execution and I’m confident we’re prepared,” he concluded.
