The Pakistan national cricket team toured South Africa during the 1997–98 season, playing three Tests from 14 February to 10 March 1998.
Pakistan was led by Rashid Latif while South Africa was led by Hansie Cronje. The tour began with a Test series consisting of three matches. Both captains had to withdraw from part of the Test series with injury.[1]
The series was drawn 1–1.[2] At the end of the series, Azhar Mahmood of Pakistan emerged as the top run-scorer with 327 runs, with an average of 65.40; Saeed Anwar followed close behind with 236 runs.[3]Waqar Younis and Allan Donald finished the series as top wicket-takers capturing 16 wickets respectively, with Mushtaq Ahmed taking 13.[3] Azhar Mahmood was named "man of the series".[4]
The Pakistan tour was followed by a tour of Zimbabwe, followed by a triangular One-Day tournament played in South Africa, which included Sri Lanka as the third team.[5] Pakistan and South Africa qualified for the final from the group stage.[6] Pakistan were defeated in the Final by South Africa.[7]
Note: during the isolation of South Africa from international cricket between 1970 and 1991, there were seven unofficial tours (italicised below) by various teams, collectively known as the South African rebel tours.
