South African cricket team has finally landed in Karachi today, ahead of Pak VS SA test and T20I series, commencing from January 26th. This tour marks the homecoming of SA squad after 14 long years.
Cricket in Pakistan has been through its ugliest chapters in past, when the stadium lights were turned off for what seemed like infinity. International cricket teams had embargoed home tours and the pitches here were dragged into dust and darkness. However, after some agonizing decades of day night hard work, the home cricket escalated again, owing to the PSL. Pakistan regained its identity in the cricket universe where it secures a notable rank at present.
Hence, multiple international squads considered short tours to Pakistan. And, likewise, South African cricket squad, who had explored the country last in 2007, also agreed on Pak VS SA test and T20I series, that too on Pakistan’s soil.
South African group arrive in Pakistan
Pak VS SA cricket combat is just around the corner as the passionate visitors are already in the country. The South African squad, after twice qualifying covid-19 tests, landed in Karachi today. Upon arrival, the lineup had to go through another testing process, to ensure the safety of other players.
Moreover, the touring group will now stay in individual isolation, until the results of first round testing shows up. Subsequent to that, the group will be allowed to practice at cricket ground adjacent to the team’s hotel.
“The South African team will be training at the Karachi Gymkhana cricket ground from January 17-22 in a biosecure bubble before moving to National Stadium for a full-fledge training session,” said the PCB official.
Also, the visitors will play a two-day intra-squad warm-up match during their training period at gymkhana ground, before entering the first Pak VS SA test on January 26th.
Pak VS SA test and T20I schedule
| MATCH | DATE | VENUE | TIME |
| 1st Test | Jan 26-30 | National Stadium, Karachi | 10 am PST |
| 2nd Test | Feb 04-08 | Rawalpidi stadium | 10 am PST |
| 1st T20I | Feb 11 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 3:30 pm PST |
| 2nd T20I | Feb 13 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 3:30 pm PST |
| 3rd T20I | Feb 14 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 3:30 pm PST |
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Pak VS SA squads
Visitors lineup
Lead by Quinton de Kock, the South African squad for Pak VS SA series include,
- Temba Bavuma,
- Aiden Markram,
- Faf du Plessis,
- Dean Elgar,
- Kagiso Rabada,
- Dwaine Pretorius,
- Keshav Maharaj,
- Lungi Ngidi,
- Rassie van der Dussen,
- Anrich Nortje,
- Wiaan Mulder,
- Lutho Sipamla,
- Beuran Hendricks,
- Kyle Verreynne,
- Sarel Erwee,
- Keegan Petersen,
- Tabraiz Shamsi,
- George Linde,
- Daryn Dupavillon
- Marco Jansen.
Home team lineup
Lead by Babar Azam, the team in green names,
- Abid Ali,
- Abdullah Shafique,
- Imran Butt,
- Azhar Ali,
- Fawad Alam,
- Kamran Ghulam,
- Salman Ali Agha,
- Saud Shakeel,
- Mohammad Rizwan,
- Sarfaraz Ahmed,
- Nauman Ali,
- Sajid Khan,
- Yasir Shah,
- Haris Rauf,
- Hasan Ali,
- Shaheen Shah Afridi,
- Tabish Khan.
