The 2025–26 season remains pivotal for South African cricket, with the men’s side focussing on limited-overs commitments amid the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. South Africa’s home schedule features a shortened T20I series against West Indies ahead of the World Cup, while their standout performance in the Super 8s including a 76-run win over India highlights their title credentials in the tournament.
Off the field, Cricket South Africa’s decision to schedule no men’s Tests at home in 2025–26 frees up time for venue upgrades ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, while the women’s team hosts white-ball tours against Ireland and Pakistan to build depth and consistency across formats.
Upcoming South Africa Men’s Cricket Series 2026
This table shows the dates, teams, and venues for the South Africa Men’s 2026 calendar.
| Series / Tour | Opponent | Format | Host Country | Dates | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-off T20I | Namibia national cricket team | T20I | Namibia | 11 Oct 2025 | Namibia won by 4 wickets |
| South Africa Tour of Pakistan 2025–26 | Pakistan national cricket team | 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is | Pakistan | 12 Oct – 08 Nov 2025 | Test series drawn 1–1; ODI series lost 2–1; T20I series lost 2–1 |
| South Africa Tour of India 2025–26 | India national cricket team | 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is | India | 14 Nov – 19 Dec 2025 | Test series: Lost 0–2, ODI series: Lost 1–2, T20I series: Lost 1–4 |
| West Indies Tour of South Africa 2026 | West Indies cricket team | 3 T20Is | South Africa | Jan 27–31, 2026 | SA won series 2–1 (Won 1st by 9 wkts, Won 2nd by 8 wkts; Lost 3rd by 6 runs DLS) |
| ICC T20 World Cup 2026 | Multiple Teams | T20 (Tournament) | India & Sri Lanka (co‑hosts) | Feb 9–18, 2026 (Group Stage) | Ongoing / Qualified in Super 8 |
| South Africa Tour of New Zealand 2026 | New Zealand national cricket team | 5 T20Is | New Zealand | Mar 15–25, 2026 | Upcoming / Not yet played |
| Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 | Australia national cricket team | 3 ODIs, 3 Tests | South Africa | 24 Sep – 31 Oct 2026 | Upcoming / Not yet played |
| Bangladesh Tour of South Africa 2026 | Bangladesh national cricket team | 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is | South Africa | 15 Nov – 13 Dec 2026 | Upcoming / Not yet played |
| England Tour of South Africa 2026–27 | England national cricket team | 3 Tests, 3 ODIs | South Africa | 17 Dec 2026 – 15 Jan 2027 | Upcoming / Not yet played |
1. South Africa Tour of Namibia
Namibia hosted South Africa for the first time ever on 11 October 2025 at the brand‑new FNB Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, marking a historic moment for African cricket. Namibia won the one-off T20I by 4 wickets, chasing down South Africa’s total of 134/8 with a score of 138/6 in 20 overs.
The stadium, with a capacity of around 7,000, includes a High-Performance Centre, hospitality facilities, and modern infrastructure, and will also host matches in the 2026 ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup and the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Match Highlights:
- Namibia achieved a historic first win over South Africa in a T20I.
- South Africa’s top-order struggled against Namibia’s spin attack, restricting their total to 134/8.
- Bowling performances in the death overs secured the victory.
- The match marked the grand inauguration of Namibia’s first international-standard stadium.
2. South Africa Tour of Pakistan
On 12 October – 8 November 2025, Pakistan hosted South Africa for a full tour, including a two-match Test series, three ODIs, and three T20Is.
The Test series was drawn 1–1, with Pakistan winning the first Test at Lahore by 93 runs and South Africa leveling the series in the second Test at Rawalpindi with an 8-wicket victory. In the white-ball matches, Pakistan won both the ODI series 2–1 and the T20I series 2–1, reclaiming home dominance over the Proteas. This tour marked South Africa’s first Test series in Pakistan since 2021.
Match Highlights:
- Pakistan’s batsmen set a challenging total in the first Test, giving the home side the series lead.
- South Africa’s resilient batting in the second Test secured a strong win and drew the series.
- Pakistan’s bowling in ODIs and T20Is, especially in the final overs, proved decisive in close encounters.
- Key players from both sides delivered match-turning performances, making the series competitive and thrilling.
3. South Africa Tour of India
From 14 November to 19 December 2025, the South Africa national cricket team toured India for a multi‑format international cricket series comprising 2 Tests, 3 ODIs and 5 T20 Internationals.
The tour began with a two‑match Test series: the first Test was held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata (14–18 November), and the second Test, marking a historic first for the city, was played at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati (22–26 November) — the first time that ground hosted a men’s Test match. South Africa won both Tests, achieving their first Test series win in India in 25 years.
Following the Test series, the tour continued with a three‑match ODI series on 30 November (Ranchi), 3 December (Raipur), and 6 December (Visakhapatnam), and a five‑match T20I series across venues including Cuttack, Mullanpur, Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad (9–19 December). India won the ODI series 2–1 and the T20I series 3–1, showcasing strong performances in the white‑ball formats.
Match Highlights:
- South Africa swept the Test series 2–0, winning in Kolkata by 30 runs and Guwahati by 408 runs, with the Guwahati Test marking the city’s first-ever men’s Test.
- India bounced back in white-ball cricket, clinching the ODI series 2–1 and the T20I series 3–1, showing dominance across the shorter formats.
4. West Indies Tour of South Africa
The West Indies men’s cricket team will play five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against South Africa from January 27 to February 6, 2026, as part of South Africa’s home season. The series is more than a bilateral contest, providing both teams valuable preparation ahead of upcoming ICC events and an opportunity to test their T20 squads in competitive conditions.
In preparation for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, both teams are using this series to fine-tune their skills, experiment with strategies, and adapt to different match situations ahead of the global tournament.
5. South Africa of New Zealand
South Africa is scheduled to tour New Zealand in March 2026 for a five‑match T20I series part of New Zealand’s packed 2025–26 home season.
The series will help both teams prepare to find the right combination of players for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.
6. Australia Tour of South Africa 2026
Australia will tour South Africa in September–October 2026 for a full series comprising three ODIs and three Tests, visiting venues including Durban, Johannesburg, Potchefstroom, Gqeberha, and Cape Town.
The tour provides both sides an opportunity to test their squads ahead of major international tournaments and adapt to home and away conditions.
7. Bangladesh Tour of South Africa 2026
Bangladesh will tour South Africa from November to December 2026 for a comprehensive series including two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is, with matches scheduled across Johannesburg, Centurion, East London, Gqeberha, Cape Town, Kimberley, and Benoni.
The tour offers both teams an opportunity to test their squads in diverse South African conditions ahead of major ICC events.
8. England Tour of South Africa 2026–27
England’s cricket team will tour South Africa for a full series starting with three Test matches in December and early January, taking place in Johannesburg, Centurion, and Cape Town.
The tour will then continue with three ODIs in January, beginning in Paarl and concluding with back-to-back matches in Bloemfontein.
South Africa Women Fixture 2026
The following table shows the teams, dates, and venues for the South Africa Women’s 2026 season.
| Series | Opponent | Format | Host | Dates | Result / Notes (updated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa Tour of Pakistan | Pakistan | 3 ODI | Pakistan | 12 October – 8 November 2025 | Pakistan won series 2‑1 (1st ODI – PAK won by 2 wkts; 2nd ODI – SA won by 8 wkts; 3rd ODI – PAK won by 7 wkts |
| Women’s ODI World Cup | Various Teams | ODI | India & Sri Lanka | 30 September – 2 November 2025 | India beat South Africa by 52 runs to win the Cup. |
| Ireland Tour of South Africa | Ireland | 3 T20I, 3 ODI | South Africa | 5 December – 19 December 2025 | T20I series won 2–0 (1 match abandoned); ODI series won 3–0 |
| Pakistan Tour of South Africa | Pakistan | 3 T20I, 3 ODI | South Africa | 10 February – 1 March 2026 | South Africa Women won T20I Series 2–1, South Africa Women lead ODI Series 1–0 (Series in progress) |
| South Africa Tour of New Zealand | New Zealand | 5 T20I, 3 ODI | New Zealand | 15 March – 25 March 2026 | Upcoming / Not yet played |
| Women’s T20 World Cup | Various Teams | T20I | England | 12 June – 5 July 2026 | Upcoming / Not yet played |
Conclusion: South Africa’s 2026 Cricket Calendar With Exciting Tours & Key Results
The South African men’s cricket team had a competitive 2026 season, featuring tours to Pakistan and India for World Test Championship matches. They showed resilience in challenging conditions and produced strong performances in home fixtures, including wins in T20Is against the West Indies. Their focus remains on the T20 World Cup 2026, where they aim to make a significant impact.
The South African women’s team has also been impressive, with close contests in the Pakistan series and strong showings in international tournaments. Their recent performances reflect growing depth and competitiveness across formats, setting the stage for a promising season ahead.
Overall, both teams have delivered exciting cricket in 2026. With important upcoming series and global tournaments, fans can look forward to competitive matches, memorable performances, and continued development of South African cricket on the world stage.
