SOUTH AFRICA TOUR OF PAKISTAN, 2025
South Africa will need to strategize on how to counter spin in Rawalpindi. © Getty
What if we eliminate the toss and let the visiting team decide whether to bat or field first? This concept has seen some success in county cricket and has been discussed by the ICC. Given the events in Lahore last week and the anticipated conditions in Rawalpindi this week, it’s an idea worth considering at higher levels of play.
Ryan Rickelton expressed his disagreement with this idea, stating at a press conference, “I don’t believe that’s a beneficial change. The toss is fundamental to Test cricket; teams need to adapt to their strengths and conditions.”
Rickelton’s comments came shortly after the first Test in Lahore, where the pitch favored spin to such an extent that South Africa, known for their pace, brought a spinner into play as early as the sixth over.
Pakistan secured a 93-run victory after lunch on the fourth day, aided by their spinners who took 16 wickets. The expectations are that the pitch in Rawalpindi for the second Test, starting Monday, will be similarly tailored.
Rickelton acknowledged, “That’s Pakistan’s strength, and it’s expected in their home conditions. We must rise to the challenge and compete effectively, regardless of the toss outcome, ensuring we can influence the match whether batting second or fourth.”
Match Dates: October 20 to 24, 2025; 10 am Local Time (7am SAT, 5am GMT, 10.30am IST)
Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Weather Forecast: Expected bright sunshine with a possibility of cloud cover late on day three, assuming the match is still in session on what is expected to be another challenging pitch.
