LAHORE: A two-member security delegation from South Africa will tour Pakistan during the four remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to be held in Lahore from Nov 14 to 17, after which the tour of the African team to Pakistan, scheduled for January next year will be finalized.

South Africa are likely to play two Tests and three T20 International matches in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, as the security delegation is scheduled to visit these three cities.

The visit of the South African team would be a turning point as it would be the first top-level team which will tour Pakistan since the horrific attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009.

Though the PCB for the last 11 years has been trying its best to bring foreign teams to Pakistan. Though the PCB succeeded to host the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Kenya, World XI, MCC squad, no team from major cricketing countries like England, Australia, India and New Zealand toured Pakistan, mainly on security grounds.

As the armed forces of England and Australia had been involved in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan for the last two decades, it is also one of the reasons of these countries not touring Pakistan since 9/11-induced war on terror. The PCB expects the England team to play some T20 matches next year.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2020

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