KARACHI, March 28: South Africa will turn down any formal approach from Pakistan to play a Test series later this year, Cricket South Africa (CSA) said on Friday.

Pakistan had asked South Africa to fill a gap in their schedule after the postponement of Australia’s tour this month for security reasons.

Brian Basson, general manager of cricket operations for CSA said the South Africa board had yet to receive a formal request from the PCB.

“Should a request of this nature come through from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), CSA would unfortunately not be in a position to accept such a proposal due to its intense tour schedule,” Basson said on Friday.

Earlier, PCB chief Dr Nasim Ashraf had told reporters that South Africa had responded positively to the invitation for the Test series which is outside the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Future Tours Programme (FTP).

“We want to play it sometime in October after the ICC Champions Trophy. The South Africans are interested but it is not final whether we will go there or they will tour Pakistan,” Dr Nasim said.

In a bid to fill in the gap created by Australia’s pullout, Pakistan have already hurriedly arranged a one-day series at home against Bangladesh from April 8 and have also invited Sri Lanka for a similar series.

“We are playing Bangladesh and then hope to have another five-match series with Sri Lanka before the Asia Cup in June. New Zealand and the West Indies have also shown interest to tour for a one-day series,” he said, hoping either New Zealand or the West Indies would agree to tour before the ICC Champions Trophy, which Pakistan hosts from Sept 11 to 28.

“We also hope that Australia fulfil their commitment to tour us in April next year and we are negotiating on that as well.”

—Agencies