- Former Proteas captain Faf du Plessis understands the significance of the anti-GBV stance taken by the women's team.
- The women's team played in black against Pakistan at Kingsmead on Saturday in solidarity with GBV victims.
- Du Plessis also said Pakistan will be difficult to beat on their own patch.
Proteas star batsman Faf du Plessis may understand the significance of touring in Pakistan for the first time, but the stand the Proteas women have taken with regards to gender-based violence (GBV) isn't lost on him.
The Proteas women defeated Pakistan by 13 runs in Saturday's second ODI, which saw South Africa wear black in solidarity with GBV victims.
A visibly fresh and relaxed Du Plessis, who will be playing his first Test in Pakistan, was firm in how GBV was a problem in South Africa.
"GBV isn't just a women problem in our country, it is a South African problem, especially for males. If you look at the GBV stats in South Africa, they are insane. They are ridiculous," said Du Plessis.
"One of the most important things in our country, that as males, we need to be better, that our country becomes more aware of what is going on and how bad the situation is.
"The more you speak about it, the more your mouth drops open with regards to what is happening. It is a great cause and one that I'm happy to support. It's great to see the ladies doing their thing and playing in black."
With the first Test taking place in Karachi, a fortress of Pakistani cricket that's only been breached by South Africa (2007) and England (2000), the visitors still have a tough task in front of them.
Between 2007, when they won the two-Test series against Pakistan 1-0 and 2015 when they were hammered 3-0 in a four-match series, South Africa were one of the best travelling sides in Asia.
There were two notable series draws in India and a series win in Sri Lanka 2014, but that has fallen away significantly.
South Africa have lost their last five Tests in Asia by wide margins against India and Sri Lanka respectively, but Pakistan at home are an unknown quantity.
Pakistan's Test series against Sri Lanka last month was their first home red-ball engagement in 10 years, but they steamed past the visitors in Karachi in the second Test after drawing the first one in Rawalpindi.
Du Plessis, who was five years away from making his Test debut when South Africa were last in Pakistan in 2007, wouldn’t be drawn into South Africa's 2007 success.
He's also hoping that there are going to be some runs on offer on what are traditionally flat pitches.
The first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Karachi starts on Tuesday, with the second one in Rawalpindi on 4 February.
"That was a very long time ago and a very different team. I think both Pakistan and South Africa are similarly placed where they are in terms of their teams. There’s a lot of inexperience and not a lot of Test caps. Both teams are still figuring out the way forward in terms of gaining as much experience as possible," Du Plessis said.
"For all of us, it's going to be the first time playing Test cricket in Pakistan while for a lot of our team, it's the first time playing in the sub-continent. We're expecting it to be a tough ask against Pakistan. They're a dangerous team in their own conditions. I've been told that Pakistan is one of the best places to come and bat, with the first three days belonging to the batters with the last two days belonging to spin."