In December 2020, Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed that they would be touring Pakistan.[5] The Test matches took place in Karachi and Rawalpindi, with the T20I matches being played in Lahore.[6]
Pakistan won the first Test by seven wickets, to take a 1–0 lead in the series.[7] Pakistan won the second Test by 95 runs, taking the series 2–0, and recording their first series win against South Africa since October 2003.[8] The T20I series was level after the first two matches,[9] with Pakistan winning the third match by four wickets, winning the series 2–1.[10] With winning the third match, Pakistan became the first men's team to win 100 T20I matches.[11]
On 25 September 2020, the PCB confirmed that the South African team would be touring Pakistan, as per the schedule.[16] A month later, Cricket South Africa sent a security delegation to Pakistan to perform a feasibility assessment for the tour.[17] South Africa last toured Pakistan in October 2007.[18] On 16 January 2021, the PCB named the match officials for the tour. Aleem Dar, who has been the on-field umpire for 132 Tests prior to the tour, stood in his first Test match at home.[19]Ahsan Raza also made his debut as an on-field umpire in Test cricket.[20]
In December 2020, Pakistan's Shadab Khan suffered an injury ahead of the Test series against New Zealand.[25] On 26 December 2020, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that he had been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand,[26] and the Test matches at home against South Africa.[27] Before South Africa departed for the tour, Ottniel Baartman was ruled out of their Test squad, with Marco Jansen named as his replacement.[28] On 24 January 2021, the PCB confirmed that seventeen players would be available for selection for the first Test match,[29] with Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam and Agha Salman staying with the squad for training sessions.[30] The PCB also retained the same seventeen players for selection for the second Test match.[31]
