Pakistan and South Africa have developed a highly competitive rivalry in T20 International cricket. Since their first T20I meeting in 2007, the two teams have played 27 matches, with Pakistan holding a narrow 14-13 advantage. Neither side has dominated the rivalry for a long period, making Pakistan vs South Africa one of the closer head-to-head contests in men’s T20I cricket. pakistan-vs-south-africa-head-to-head-in-t20
The latest bilateral T20I series between the teams was played in Pakistan in October-November 2025. Pakistan won the three-match series 2-1, strengthening their overall head-to-head advantage.
Pakistan vs South Africa T20I Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Pakistan | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Total matches | 27 | 27 |
| Wins | 14 | 13 |
| Losses | 13 | 14 |
| No Result | 0 | 0 |
| Win percentage | 51.85% | 48.15% |
| Highest score | 206 | 210 |
| Lowest completed score | 98 | 100 |
Pakistan currently lead the overall T20I head-to-head by one victory. The record demonstrates just how closely matched these teams have been over the years. pakistan-vs-south-africa-head-to-head-in-t20
First T20I Meeting
Pakistan and South Africa first met in T20I cricket on 2 February 2007 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
South Africa won the inaugural contest comfortably by 10 wickets. Pakistan were dismissed for 129, after which South Africa chased down the target without losing a wicket. This gave the Proteas an early advantage in the rivalry.
Since that first meeting, however, Pakistan have gradually improved their record and now have one more victory than South Africa.
Pakistan’s T20I Advantage
Pakistan’s 14 wins from 27 matches give them a slight advantage. Their success has come through a combination of explosive batting, quality fast bowling and strong performances in major ICC tournaments.
Pakistan have also enjoyed several memorable victories against South Africa. One of the most important came in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 semi-final, when Pakistan defeated South Africa by seven runs at Trent Bridge. Pakistan scored 149/4 and restricted South Africa to 142/5.
Another memorable encounter took place at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Sydney. Pakistan scored 185/9 before rain interrupted South Africa’s chase. Pakistan eventually won by 33 runs under the DLS method.
South Africa’s Strong T20 Record
Although Pakistan lead the overall head-to-head, South Africa have also produced some outstanding performances.
The Proteas won the first meeting in 2007 by 10 wickets. They also enjoyed a strong run during the 2010 series in Abu Dhabi, winning both matches. South Africa continued to challenge Pakistan in bilateral series and major tournaments.
In the 2018-19 T20I series, South Africa defeated Pakistan 2-1. Pakistan responded strongly in the third match, winning by 27 runs at Centurion. Shadab Khan was named Player of the Match after an important all-round performance.
The rivalry therefore has frequently shifted from one team to the other.
2021 T20I Series
The 2021 series in Pakistan was particularly competitive.
Pakistan won the first T20I by three runs, but South Africa responded in the second match with a six-wicket victory. Dwaine Pretorius produced exceptional bowling figures of 5/17, which were at that time the best figures by a South African men’s bowler in T20I cricket and the best against Pakistan.
Pakistan then won the deciding third match by four wickets, taking the series 2-1. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam played important roles in the chase, while Hasan Ali finished the match strongly for Pakistan.
Later in 2021, Pakistan toured South Africa for another four-match T20I series. Pakistan won that series 3-1, including a thrilling three-wicket victory in the final match. Fakhar Zaman scored 60 in the deciding game.
2024 T20I Encounters
The two teams met again in South Africa in December 2024.
South Africa won the first two matches of the series, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead. The second match at Centurion was particularly notable because both teams produced huge totals.
South Africa scored 210/3, while Pakistan made 206/5. These remain the highest team totals in the Pakistan-South Africa T20I rivalry.
The match demonstrated the batting power available on both sides. South Africa eventually won by seven wickets.
2025 T20I Series
Pakistan hosted South Africa for a three-match T20I series in October and November 2025.
South Africa won the opening match by 55 runs in Rawalpindi. Pakistan then bounced back strongly, winning the second T20I by nine wickets at Lahore.
Pakistan completed the comeback in the third match, defeating South Africa by four wickets at Gaddafi Stadium. The victory gave Pakistan a 2-1 series win.
The 2025 series therefore had an important impact on the overall head-to-head record, moving Pakistan one victory ahead at 14-13.
Highest Team Scores
The highest score in Pakistan vs South Africa T20I matches belongs to South Africa.
South Africa – 210/3
South Africa scored 210/3 at Centurion in December 2024. It came during a high-scoring match in which Pakistan also crossed 200, making 206/5.
Pakistan – 206/5
Pakistan’s highest total against South Africa is 206/5, also recorded at Centurion in December 2024. Despite reaching more than 200, Pakistan lost the match as South Africa successfully chased the target.
These two totals highlight the batting quality involved in this rivalry.
Lowest Team Scores
Pakistan’s lowest completed T20I total against South Africa is 98, recorded in Dubai in November 2013.
South Africa’s lowest completed total against Pakistan is 100, which came at Centurion in March 2013. Pakistan won that match by a huge margin of 95 runs.
The contrast between these low scores and the 200-plus totals in later matches shows how dramatically T20 cricket has evolved.
Key Players in the Rivalry
Several world-class players have made their mark in Pakistan vs South Africa T20Is.
For Pakistan, Babar Azam has been one of the most productive batters in the fixture. According to available head-to-head statistics, Babar has scored 524 runs against South Africa in T20Is.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has also been an important bowler for Pakistan, with 17 wickets against South Africa in T20Is according to the same record set.
South Africa have relied on players such as David Miller, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen for match-winning performances.
David Miller’s explosive batting was particularly important in the 2021 series, when he scored 85 from only 45 balls in South Africa’s six-wicket victory over Pakistan.
Pakistan vs South Africa T20I Rivalry: Key Facts
- Total matches: 27
- Pakistan wins: 14
- South Africa wins: 13
- No Results: 0
- First T20I: 2 February 2007
- Latest T20I: 1 November 2025
- Pakistan’s highest score: 206/5
- South Africa’s highest score: 210/3
- Pakistan’s lowest: 98
- South Africa’s lowest: 100
- Latest series: Pakistan won 2-1 in 2025
Conclusion
The Pakistan vs South Africa head-to-head record in T20I cricket is extremely competitive. After 27 matches, Pakistan have won 14 while South Africa have won 13. Pakistan therefore hold a narrow one-match advantage.
The rivalry has produced memorable World Cup matches, high-scoring thrillers and outstanding individual performances. South Africa dominated the early stages, but Pakistan have gradually improved their record, particularly in recent bilateral series.
The 2025 series was another example of Pakistan’s ability to fight back. South Africa won the opening match, but Pakistan responded by winning the next two and taking the series 2-1.
With only one victory separating the teams, every future Pakistan-South Africa T20I has the potential to change the overall head-to-head record.
5 Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many T20I matches have Pakistan and South Africa played?
Pakistan and South Africa have played 27 men’s T20I matches against each other.
2. Who has won more T20Is between Pakistan and South Africa?
Pakistan have won more, with 14 victories compared with South Africa’s 13.
3. What is the highest T20I score between Pakistan and South Africa?
South Africa’s 210/3 is the highest team score in the rivalry. Pakistan’s highest is 206/5. Both totals came at Centurion in December 2024.
4. When did Pakistan and South Africa first play a T20I?
Their first T20I was played on 2 February 2007 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, where South Africa won by 10 wickets.
5. Who won the latest Pakistan vs South Africa T20I series?
Pakistan won the latest three-match T20I series 2-1 in 2025. South Africa won the first match, but Pakistan won the second and third matches to take the series.