Scheduled to visit Pakistan for a Test and ODI series later this year, South Africa has expressed its concern over the brewing political scenario in the country.
KARACHI: Scheduled to visit Pakistan for a Test and ODI series later this year, South Africa has expressed its concern over the brewing political scenario in the country.
A six-member security delegation of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) is visiting the country to assess the security system ahead of the team's visit to Pakistan from September 27 to play two tests and five one-day internationals.
The delegation members are inspecting the venues and meeting security and government officials before they submit their report on conditions for the Australian A and under-19 teams tours to Pakistan this year.
Media reports claim though the South Africans are concerned, they insist the tour was still on.
General Manager Operations at CSA, Brian Basson, admitted cricket bosses were worried about the situation after a surge of violence in recent weeks following the military operation against Islamic militants in the Red Mosque in Islamabad.
But he insisted he was optimistic that there would be no repeat of their withdrawal from Sri Lanka last year.
Basson, who is awaiting a security assessment from Australia ahead of their A-team tour said, "I have a very good relationship with my Australian couterpart and I will certainly be asking for a copy of that report."
Pakistan Cricket Board officials have privately admitted that if the security and political situation in Pakistan worsened, it could face problems convincing touring teams to fulfill their commitments this season.
South Africa in 2003 had refused to play at Karachi for security reasons.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}