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BSP-05
CRICKET-RSA-PAK
South Africa arrive for first Pakistan tour in 14 years
KARACHI, Jan 16, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The South African cricket team arrived in
Karachi on Saturday to play two Tests and three Twenty20 internationals on
their first tour of Pakistan in 14 years.
The team, led by wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock, was whisked from
the airport under state-head level security accorded by the hosts, the
Pakistan Cricket Board.
The 21-member squad had two Covid-19 tests before their departure from
Johannesburg which all came back negative, and they will be further tested on
their arrival.
Officials say the squad will stay in individual isolation until the
results of the first round of testing are released before they start training
in a ground adjacent to their hotel.
Pakistan and South Africa will play the first Test in Karachi from January
26.
The second Test starts in Rawalpindi from February 4 while Lahore will
host all three Twenty20 internationals on February 11, 13 and 14.
South Africa’s head coach Mark Boucher has showed satisfaction with the
security arrangements in Pakistan.
“We’ve had our (security) guys go there (to Pakistan) and do a recce of
the situation and they have said it is safe,” Boucher told reporters ahead of
the team’s departure on Friday.
“So from my side there are no issues, we have to get back there and start
playing cricket,” said Boucher, part of South Africa’s last tour to Pakistan
in 2007.
International cricket was suspended in Pakistan following a terrorist
attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.
Pakistan has gradually hosted teams again in the last five years before
Test cricket was revived in late 2019 when Sri Lanka toured for two Tests.
South Africa squad: Quinton de Kock (captain), Temba Bavuma, Aiden
Markram, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav
Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Anrich Nortje, Wiaan Mulder,
Lutho Sipamla, Beuran Hendricks, Kyle Verreynne, Sarel Erwee, Keegan
Petersen, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde, Daryn Dupavillon, Marco Jansen
BSS/AFP/SSS/1045 hrs