Proteas aim to extend WTC glory, starting in Lahore and Rawalpindi

The defence of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) mace is set to officially get underway for South Africa as they begin the new cycle with a two-match Test series in Lahore and Rawalpindi this month.

As the Proteas start the 2025–27 WTC cycle in Pakistan next week, they carry a target on their backs, having won the WTC final against Australia at Lord’s this past winter.

It will be a new challenge for South Africa, given that every Test they play will now be closely examined by opposition teams — a level of scrutiny they most likely did not face in the previous cycle, when they flew under the radar due to a lack of stars and being generally underrated.

Stand-in captain Aiden Markram emphasised the team’s desire to lift the WTC mace once again at the conclusion of the new cycle.

“I suppose you do create a bit of a target on your back if you’ve won (the WTC final). So, it’s completely fair if that is the case. From our point of view, we want to chase that again and lift that same trophy once more,” Markram said on Monday.

“So, each team will come for you. You, as a team, also have to keep improving and play well in all different types of conditions. It’s tough for us in Pakistan, and it’s a challenge that the boys will be up for.”

The side will be without regular Test captain Temba Bavuma, who has been ruled out for the entire tour due to a calf injury. This absence opens the door for batters Tony de Zorzi and Dewald Brevis to break into the starting XI of a full-strength team.

De Zorzi lost his position as opening batter in the full-strength Test side earlier this year, having been overtaken by Ryan Rickelton. However, the left-handed batter could still feature in Pakistan, having proven he has the technique and hunger to score big runs in the subcontinent — he made his career-best 175 in Bangladesh about a year ago.

Brevis, on the other hand, is young, exciting, and brings a completely different dynamic to the Test set-up with the attacking nature of his approach.

“He’d (Brevis) definitely be an option, especially with the way he plays spin. If the conditions are going to be exaggerated, he can quickly change the momentum of the game doing what he does and playing the way he does, then I think he’ll be a definite consideration,” said Markram.

“You’ve got guys like Tony as well coming back. He played incredibly well in Bangladesh, scoring big runs there where it was also quite challenging. So, I don’t think it’s necessarily a dead swap, but I’m very sure he’ll be in the conversations.”

The Proteas Test squad is set to depart for Pakistan on Tuesday The first Test is scheduled to get underway on Sunday in Lahore, while the second and final Test is set to start on Monday, October 20 in Rawalpindi.