SA vs PAK 2025: Mohsin Naqvi looks to fire up Pakistan’s team for South Africa Tests with pep talk

Following their failure in the Asia Cup, Pakistan is hoping for a fresh start in the next Test series against South Africa. The Asian giants will welcome the World Test Champions for a two-match Test series beginning on Sunday, October 12, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Mohsin Naqvi, the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), paid a visit to the Gaddafi Stadium before the first Test to meet with the players and give them a pep talk. He was accompanied by Aqib Javed, Director of the High Performance Centre.

Mohsin Naqvi was also seen greeting spinner Abrar Ahmed, who recently married in Karachi, and members of South Africa’s team management.

The timing of this visit is particularly significant. Shan Masood’s men finished last in the previous WTC cycle, with only five victories from 14 matches and a PCT of 27.98. Recently, the squad lost to its archrivals, India, in the Asia Cup 2025 final. Notably, Pakistan lost all three of their continental competition matches against the Men in Blue.

Pakistan will be looking to get off to a solid start in the WTC 2025-2027 cycle after losing to the West Indies by 120 runs in Multan in their previous appearance in the red-ball format.

“My full support is with you for the Test series against South Africa,” Naqvi told the leadership group, emphasising the administration’s confidence in the team.

It remains to be seen whether Naqvi’s pep talk and assurance that Masood and Azhar Mahmood will have operational autonomy regarding the Test team translates into positive results. However, it goes without saying that doing well against a strong team like South Africa will help Pakistan regain their mojo after a string of disappointing results in recent times.