For the first time in 14 years, South Africa will tour Pakistan next month to play 2 Test matches and 3 T20I matches, officials announced on Wednesday.
The 5-day matches are part of the ICC Test Championship and will be held in Karachi (26th until 30th January) and Rawalpindi (4th until 8th February), before T20I matches at the same venues and Lahore, ending on 14th February.
In the past 15 months, international cricket has returned to Pakistan after a militant attack on a Sri Lankan squad bus in 2009 at Lahore . The attack killed 6 policemen and 2 civilians.
Since September 2019, the country has hosted Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, while recently England announced a short 2-match 20-over series in next year’s October in the build-up to India's T20 World Cup.
Graeme Smith, South Africa's director of cricket said in a statement that it is happy to see so many countries back to Pakistan - a proud, cricket-loving country, and he would like to thank the PCB for the hospitality and transparency shown to the safety contingent a few weeks ago when they came over there.
I would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the hospitality and openness shown to our safety contingent a few weeks ago when they came over there.
CONFIRMED: SA tour to Pakistan 🏏@OfficialCSA is pleased to confirm that the #Proteas men’s team will travel to @TheRealPCB for their first tour since 2007. It will consist of a two-match Test and a three-match T20 series.
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 9, 2020
👉 https://t.co/a9UdLiSMcR#PAKvSA #SeeUsOnThePitch pic.twitter.com/IbYX3FHTf3