KARACHI: The South African cricket team arrived in Karachi on Saturday after a gap of 14 years in a significant development towards the revival of international cricket in Pakistan.
This is South Africa’s first visit to Pakistan since 2007 when the Proteas played five ODIs and a Test in the country.
The team, led by Quetin de Kock, arrived in Karachi on a chartered flight and will be tested on the Covid 19 on arrival.
The touring party has canceled two COVID-19 tests on Tuesday and Thursday before the flight to Karachi.
Players will remain in individual isolation until the results of the first round of tests are released.
Meanwhile, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official confirmed that those returning with the first negative test would be allowed to resume training at the cricket ground adjacent to the team’s hotel on Club Road.
“The South African team will train in the biosecure bubble on January 17-22 at the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground before heading to the National Stadium for a full training session,” the official said.
Guests will also play a two-day intra-squad warm-up match during the training session at the gymnasium ground.
The South African squad, along with Pakistani cricketers, will go through another round of the COVID-19 Test before the first Test starts at the National Stadium on January 26.
In addition, the Pakistan team will report to Karachi on January 19 and will start training from January 21 after clearing the first COVID-19 test at NSK.
Cricket South Africa has made a change in the touring squad before leaving for Pakistan. Seymour O’Neill Bartmann was ruled out for separate medical reasons, while Marco Johnson replaced him in the Test squad.
South Africa’s 21-man Test squad:
Quentin de Cock (C), Temba Bauma, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Dan Elgar, Kagsu Rabada, Dwayne Pretorius, Casio Maharaj, Longi Engidi, Rasi van der Dawson, Enrich Nortzi, Vian Molder, Lotho Speminx, Beverin Cyril Ervie, Kegan Peterson, Tabriz Shamsi, George Linde, Darren Doppolin and Marco Johnson.
In addition, the CSA will later name its T20 squad, while the 20-over match specialist is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on February 3.
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