South Africa’s Tour To Pakistan 2021 To Begin From Next Month

South Africa’s tour to Pakistan 2021 will commence from the coming month and hence, this is for the first time in nearly 14 years that the Proteas have agreed to travel the country for an international assignment.

Read: Pakistan Team Exits Isolation, All Set To Resume Training In New Zealand

Tour Itinerary For South Africa’s Tour To Pakistan 2021

South Africa plan to arrive in Pakistan on January 16 following which they will initially observe an isolation period and then play as per the schedule below.

26-30 Jan – 1st Test, Karachi

4-8 Feb – 2nd Test, Rawalpindi

11 Feb – 1st T20I, Lahore

13 Feb – 2nd T20I, Lahore

14 Feb – 3rd T20I, Lahore

Read: Pakistan Announces 18 Member Squad For the New Zealand T20s

Significance Of The Tour

A successful South Africa’s tour to Pakistan should not only complete the process of cricket returning to the country but also ensure that other big boys like Australia, England and New Zealand have no excuse left to play the green shirts on neutral venues. Therefore, it is understood that the visit is of paramount to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). 

Read: Is PCB Responsible For The COVID 19 Controversy In New Zealand?

Babar Azam, Graeme Smith & Zakir Khan Happy Over The Development

Director of Cricket in South Africa i.e. Graeme Smith while commenting on the development said, “It’s pleasing to see so many countries making a return to Pakistan – a proud, cricket-loving nation. Cricket South Africa is delighted to be counted among them. As someone who has toured the country on more than one occasion back in my playing days, I know how much passion the people of Pakistan have for the game as well as the love and support that the Proteas enjoy there as a team. I would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the hospitality and transparency they showed our security contingent when they traveled over there a few weeks ago.”

PCB Director International, Zakir Khan on the other hand said, “South Africa confirming a tour to Pakistan and playing matches at the three major centres is a fabulous news for Pakistan cricket and its fans. South Africa is one of the most popular sides in Pakistan even though they last played here in 2007, but the fans have been following their performances closely and now look forward to welcoming them. Cricket South Africa and its players have a special bonding with Pakistan as a number of their star players visited Lahore with the ICC World XI in 2017 and have appeared in the HBL Pakistan Super League with Faf du Plessis being the latest addition after featuring in the playoffs in Karachi. 2021 promises to be a bumper and most exciting year for Pakistan cricket fans after a very long time. After South Africa, we are scheduled to host New Zealand, England and the West Indies, while our away series are against South Africa, Zimbabwe, England, Afghanistan and the West Indies.”

Skipper Babar Azam also expressed his pleasure over the development and said, “I am delighted that South Africa have confirmed their tour to Pakistan and look forward to captaining my country for the first time in a home Test at a venue where we recently won our maiden HBL Pakistan Super League title. Looking at the calendar of international cricket in 2021, I am pleased we are playing more against the sides which are ranked above us. This is critical to not only our learning and development, but also an opportunity to improve our rankings across all formats.”