Karachi: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has cancelled their proposed tour of Pakistan for a Twenty 20 series scheduled to take place next month. CSA cited the players' workload as the reason behind the cancellation.
The tour will be rescheduled at a later date suitable to both the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA).
South Africa will play three ODIs in India from March 12 to 18 and the tour of Pakistan for three T20s in Rawalpindi was planned after that.
South Africa are currently playing T20s against England after competing in four Tests and three ODIs.
After the three T20s against England, the Proteas will host Australia for three ODIs and as many T20s with the last match ending on March 7, leaving less than a week in between for the series-opener in India at Dharamsala.
MCC touring Pakistan to help convince non-Asian teams
Meanwhile, a Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) team led by former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara arrived in Lahore on Thursday to support international tours of Pakistan.
CSA cancelled Pakistan tour. The London-based MCC will play four limited-overs matches against local teams. The 12-man squad comprised players from English counties such as allrounder Ravi Bopara and spinner Samit Patel. Sangakkara was the president of the club.
After the Sri Lanka team was attacked by terrorists in 2009 in Lahore, Pakistan had to play home matches in the United Arab Emirates. The first Tests in Pakistan in more than a decade were recently staged against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, under heavy but safe security.
Pakistan has previously hosted limited-overs matches against Zimbabwe, the West Indies, a World XI and Sri Lanka. South Africa is scheduled to play three Twenty20s in Rawalpindi next month. If the tour goes ahead and safely, South Africa may return in January for two Tests and another three T20s.
