Pakistan v South Africa Test series: TV channels, schedule, team news - All you need to know

The Cricketer provides all the information over who, what, where, when, why, which channel and how wet it will be ahead of the back-to-back Tests...

What it is?

South Africa's tour of Pakistan kicks-off with two Tests as part of the World Test Championship.

What's the schedule?

FIRST TEST: National Stadium, Karachi (Tuesday, January 26 - Saturday, January 30 - 5 am GMT, 10 am local time)

SECOND TEST: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi (Tuesday, February 4 - Saturday, February 8 - 5 am GMT, 10 am local time)

What are Pakistan's chances?

While a welcome return home for Pakistan after Tests in England and New Zealand across the last 12 months should bring with it a period of tranquillity, once again it could spark another upheaval.

The scrutiny on coach Misbah-ul-Haq has perhaps never been greater. A recent review following the 2-0 series loss to the Kiwis reached an inconclusive end, with further consultation planned for after the team wave goodbye to South Africa.

While the Pakistan Cricket Board were happy to take into account factors such as Covid-19 protocols and injury to Babar Azam, they are unlikely to sympathetic if results continue on a downward trajectory.

Misbah's three-year contract comes to an end in September but having already been replaced as chief-selector it is clear his legendary status as a player holds little value here.

"The criticism is valid," he said. "The people who criticise are those who believe in this team's capabilities and the potential of this team. And that potential they showed in phases."

While expectations were relatively low in New Zealand, they are on the opposite end of the spectrum at home against a South Africa side who will find conditions completely alien to them.

New main selector Mohammad Wasim has wielded the axe, dropping the hapless Shan Masood, as well as Haris Sohail and Mohammad Abbas from the squad. Babar thankfully returns to provide the batting line-up with some solidity, while there are call-ups for uncapped quartet Haris Rauf, Imran Butt, Kamran Ghulam and Salman Ali Agha.

Faith in players who have impressed in the domestic game extends to Hasan Ali who took 43 wickets and averaged 24.82 with the bat, with a century and two fifties, in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy. He hasn't played a Test since the last time these two sides met in 2019, a match that included a duck and three wickets in 34 overs.

With Wasim barely a few weeks into his tenure, the attention on how well Pakistan are prepared might be greater than ever. Misbah complained of dropped catches in New Zealand undoing his team's chances yet such excuses overshadow the chasm between both sides.

^{Hasan Ali is back in the fold for a much-changed Pakistan}

Pakistan's squad: Abid Ali, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Yasir Shah, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tabish Khan

What about South Africa?

As has been the way for South Africa over the previous few months, this promises to be another testing period for the team.

Nevertheless, they are back in Pakistan for the first time since 2007 in another landmark moment in their hosts' return as a Test venue.

The Proteas sent a delegation to assess the protocols before agreeing to the tour. And while the Covid-19 crisis rumbles on, the squad's movements are essentially the same as they would have been pre-pandemic.

Players are restricted to one floor of their hotel with travel to the match venues accompanied by armed guards. Training facilities are located within walking distance of their accommodation.

And while debate among the players over the controls in place in Pakistan right up until they arrived - Quinton de Kock commented on conversations which took place even on the flight over - attention now turns to how they will cope in conditions almost none of the squad will have experienced before.

In the form of World XI and PSL outings, only Faf du Plessis has previously played cricket in Pakistan. And those outings were in limited-overs, white-ball cricket.

Slow, low conditions await and while it might not spin quickly Karachi and Rawalpindi will present plenty of questions to the South Africa line-up.

Kagiso Rabada returns for what is likely to be his first Tests in a year. Glenton Stuurman and Migael Pretorius are unavailable due to injury which forced the out of the Sri Lanka Tests, with Daryl Dupavillon and Marco Jansen handed their first call-ups. Dwaine Pretorius is back too, after a hamstring problem.

There is little doubt the Test series take priority on this tour, with Australia potentially to come next month. Only a handful of players are involved in the T20s as well, with much of the squad flying home after the Rawalpindi Test. An interesting strategy in a T20 World Cup year in the sub-continent.

Head coach Mark Boucher will be among them, but prior to departing will attempt to transfer his experience in Pakistan to the playing group. He was part of the last South Africa touring party to visit this part of the world nearly 14 years ago but this might not be the tour to judge his long-term coaching credentials.

^{Mark Boucher toured as a player with South Africa on their last trip to Pakistan}

South Africa squad: Quinton de Kock (c & wk), Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Anrich Nortje, Wiaan Mulder, Lutho Sipamla, Beuran Hendricks, Kyle Verreynne, Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde, Daryn Dupavillon, Marco Jansen

How can I follow it?

In the UK, Sky Sports Cricket (Sky channel 404, Talk Talk 404, BT TV 423, Virgin 504) will be showing both Tests after clinching a new deal with the PCB. Matches will be streamed via Sky Go.

PTV Sports will show the series in Pakistan. Sony Pictures Network have secured the rights in India.

The Supersport Network will pick up the series in South Africa, while in New Zealand Sky Sport will again be on hand to broadcast the clashes.

Willow TV have the rights in North American and in the Caribbean Flow Sports is the place to go.

Details regarding how the Tests will be shown in Australia and the Middle East will be confirmed in due course.

What will the weather be like?

Hot and sunny conditions are expected for both Tests in Karachi and Rawalpindi, ensuring the matches should be unaffected by inclement conditions.