Pakistan to play 3 ODIs and 4T20Is on their April tour of South Africa

[MenInG]

Pakistan Cricket Board today announced the schedule of their April series against South Africa during which they will play three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League matches. In addition to the three ODIs, which will count towards automatic qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan will also play four T20Is.

The Pakistan men’s national cricket team will depart for Johannesburg on 26 March and will play the three Super League matches on 2, 4 and 7 April. Centurion will stage the first and third ODIs, while the second match will be played in Johannesburg.

Following the 50-over matches, Pakistan and South Africa will feature in four T20Is. Originally, three T20Is were scheduled, but on the request of Cricket South Africa, the PCB has agreed to play an additional match in the shortest format.

Johannesburg will host the opening two matches on 10 and 12 April, while Pretoria will be the venue for the third and fourth T20Is.

This will be Pakistan’s second series in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. After defeating Zimbabwe 2-1 in November 2020, Pakistan are sitting fifth on the table. In contrast, this will be South Africa’s first outing in the league. In the 13-side league, each side has to play eight series over a two-year period, including four at home and four away.

The tour to South Africa was originally planned for October 2020, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has now been rescheduled for April, prior to Pakistan’s two Test and three T20I tour to Zimbabwe, which will commence on 17 April.

Director - International Cricket, Zakir Khan: “We are delighted to help assist our fellow member in these challenging times. We all have a collective responsibility to look after the game and its welfare together as ICC Members.

“South Africa and Pakistan's relationship is a long-standing and mutually valued one, and it was an easy decision for us to accommodate their request. We’re all looking forward to a successful tour.”

CSA Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith: “We are delighted to finally confirm the dates and full schedule for Pakistan’s white-ball tour to South Africa.

“Pakistan have proved their status over the years as one of the most dangerous limited-overs teams and I’m sure they will give the Proteas a stern test on the Highveld. We will also have the much-anticipated ‘Betway Pink ODI’ take place during the tour and that is something further to look forward to for the players, the fans and all those associated with this iconic day.

“We are grateful to the PCB for agreeing to our request within a short period of time to increase the length of the trip by adding in a fourth T20, which will give us some much-needed additional international content.”

Tour schedule

2 April - 1st ODI; SuperSport Park, Pretoria
4 April - 2nd ODI; Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
7 April - 3rd ODI; SuperSport Park, Pretoria
10 April - 1st T20I; Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
12 April - 2nd T20I; Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
14 April - 3rd T20I; SuperSport Park, Pretoria
16 April -4th T20I; SuperSport Park, Pretoria

 

[Sunny_majoka]

good news, thank GOD we are finally playing some ODIs

 

[Last Monetarist]

I'd have liked to see a 3-match test series instead and switched the tests scheduled for the Zimbabwe tour to white ball formats, but unfortunately Supersport would never have agreed to a change in the schedule. CSA are desperate for any kind of content this season.

 

[Giannis]

South Africa gotta get covid under control first

 

[Square Drive]

Good stuff.

Zimbabwe tour starts 1 day after this ends though, so guess our main players won't be available for some of the T20 games vs SA (assuming the Zim series starts off with Tests).

 

[Omer2002]

Test and 2020s teams are different so only few players will be affected. I am more worried about the battering we will get in south africa and then straight to zimbabwe

 

[Rayyman]

Test and 2020s teams are different so only few players will be affected. I am more worried about the battering we will get in south africa and then straight to zimbabwe

Babar, Shaheen and Rizwan rested for T20Is.

 

[Nado_]

Wanted more odis. I hope they select haris sohail in the odi squad , it’s the format he’s best suited to.

 

[szrana007]

I'd have liked to see a 3-match test series instead and switched the tests scheduled for the Zimbabwe tour to white ball formats, but unfortunately Supersport would never have agreed to a change in the schedule. CSA are desperate for any kind of content this season.

Yeah, would have loved a test series in SA. Could have been Pak's best chance to win a series in SA, but sadly SA will be a force again, by the time Pak next tours SA for a test series.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Regardless of how incompetent and corrupt PCB heads are/or have been, they have always helped other nations in time of need. Played Afghanistan way back in 2012. Toured SA in 2013 for the second time in a year when India refused to tour them, has been one of the few constant teams to tour Zim and Scotland frequently, played against Ireland in their first ever tests. Now helping out CSA in time of need.
Yes everyone knows our schedule isn't usually that hectic and we can accommodate new tours with relative ease than other busier teams but still.

Hopefully we can entice CSA next year to encourage their top players to play in PSL.

 

[Rana]

Good yar! Love it PCB!

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Yeah, would have loved a test series in SA. Could have been Pak's best chance to win a series in SA, but sadly SA will be a force again, by the time Pak next tours SA for a test series.

We’d get hammered in SA

 

[ethan hunt]

Add two tests matches to the schedule and we are good.

 

[angrypathan]

Finally, ODIs. Good opportunity to see whether someone like Haider Ali has the temperament to build an innings or if he's a braindead slogger

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

World T20 starts in October 2021. So a great decision to play 4 T20Is for solid preparation.

Well done PCB. Hopefully, South Africa will remember this great gesture by PCB and of course, thanks to SA for visiting Pak!

 

[Mamoon]

Regardless of how incompetent and corrupt PCB heads are/or have been, they have always helped other nations in time of need. Played Afghanistan way back in 2012. Toured SA in 2013 for the second time in a year when India refused to tour them, has been one of the few constant teams to tour Zim and Scotland frequently, played against Ireland in their first ever tests. Now helping out CSA in time of need.
Yes everyone knows our schedule isn't usually that hectic and we can accommodate new tours with relative ease than other busier teams but still.

Hopefully we can entice CSA next year to encourage their top players to play in PSL.

PCB has looked after its own interests and is not helping other boards out of the goodness of their hearts.

PCB has been sidelined by the powerful boards excluding ECB. They don’t get to play enough matches against teams like India, Australia, New Zealand etc. to turn down opportunities to play against the weaker sides.

We heard the same drama last summer when Pakistan toured England and how we did a favor on ECB etc., when in fact we were doing a favor on ourselves.

BCCI does not play Pakistan, CA has downgraded Pakistan from main event of the summer to 2 Test warm-up, and ECB is the only big 3 board left that is still interested in playing Pakistan. PCB is in no position to upset them because they are the ones who stand to lose.

Moreover, not tour England last summer would have drastically reduced the chances of ECB agreeing to tour Pakistan any time soon.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

I'd have liked to see a 3-match test series instead and switched the tests scheduled for the Zimbabwe tour to white ball formats, but unfortunately Supersport would never have agreed to a change in the schedule. CSA are desperate for any kind of content this season.

Yeah, would have loved a test series in SA. Could have been Pak's best chance to win a series in SA, but sadly SA will be a force again, by the time Pak next tours SA for a test series.

And just say to hell with the ODI Super League?

This is the postponed tour from this past October.

 

[DeadBall]

PCB has looked after its own interests and is not helping other boards out of the goodness of their hearts.

PCB has been sidelined by the powerful boards excluding ECB. They don’t get to play enough matches against teams like India, Australia, New Zealand etc. to turn down opportunities to play against the weaker sides.

We heard the same drama last summer when Pakistan toured England and how we did a favor on ECB etc., when in fact we were doing a favor on ourselves.

BCCI does not play Pakistan, CA has downgraded Pakistan from main event of the summer to 2 Test warm-up, and ECB is the only big 3 board left that is still interested in playing Pakistan. PCB is in no position to upset them because they are the ones who stand to lose.

Moreover, not tour England last summer would have drastically reduced the chances of ECB agreeing to tour Pakistan any time soon.

PCB like any other board has its self interest at heart but we have reciprocated in kind to others who have helped us and beyond (Like helping the Afghans).

At the end of the day it is all about the sport, you seem to be measuring it all in the top 3-4 clashes and $ value but the rest of us can probably help each other out and just enjoy good cricket.

 

[szrana007]

We’d get hammered in SA

Don't think so, if SL can win in SA, then so can Pakistan, and current SA team is much weaker than what SL faced in 2019.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Don't think so, if SL can win in SA, then so can Pakistan, and current SA team is much weaker than what SL faced in 2019.

I don’t fancy our chances in tests in SA but yea you could be right. However, limited overs is good enough for us, we have tests scheduled against Zimbabwe anyways.

 

[anakwalajinn]

Good stuff.

Zimbabwe tour starts 1 day after this ends though, so guess our main players won't be available for some of the T20 games vs SA (assuming the Zim series starts off with Tests).

Where is the schedule for the Zimbabwe series?

 

[hitthestump]

Moreover, not tour England last summer would have drastically reduced the chances of ECB agreeing to tour Pakistan any time soon.

Nah. The English don't operate in such a petty way that it would have had a drastic impact. If they can invite us back every year after spot fixing they wouldn't have been so punitive about not touring during the early stages of COVID.

Pakistan will always bring crowds and local TV ratings are guaranteed. They've also shown they can generally give them a decent game in tests. Nasser and Athers gush over Pakistan for a reason and that's because despite the bumps, generally our good reputation there has survived since the 90's when Wasim and co built us up as a box office attraction.

 

[sam_ahm]

This is good to see, excellent stuff by PCB and CSA.

 

[Last Monetarist]

And just say to hell with the ODI Super League?

This is the postponed tour from this past October.

Yes. The ODI Super League is a complete irrelevance when you have the World Cup.

 

[Titan24]

Wanted more odis. I hope they select haris sohail in the odi squad , it’s the format he’s best suited to.

If I am not wrong ICC super league has only 3 match ODI series for all the teams till the 2023 WC. Every team will play same number of series and matches by then.

 

[Titan24]

Hopefully situation with regards to Covid is much more improved in SA by then. Should be a pretty good series.

 

[Rana]

Hopefully situation with regards to Covid is much more improved in SA by then. Should be a pretty good series.

I think Pakistani players should be vaccinated by then, so they will not cause issues like the English or Australians did so

 

[Firebat]

Great work by the PCB and CSA. Always enjoyed South African grounds and SuperSport coverage

 

[Fahdi]

Why not arrange a few tests sometimes this year as well?

 

[cricket4all]

Good news, but why not fill in for Aussies for tests as well? They could tweak dates fitting in both ZImbabwe and South Africa tests. I know South Africa were to play Aus while PSL is going on but maybe after that?

 

[aloo paratha]

When's the last time any top 6 teams played against each other in April? I have been conditioned to believe April is the most boring month of the year for cricket.

 

[aloo paratha]

Also they might as well have added a 5th T20. A 4 match series makes no sense for limited overs cricket.

 

[Line and Length]

Also they might as well have added a 5th T20. A 4 match series makes no sense for limited overs cricket.

They probably would have, if it didn’t overlap with our Test series in Zimbabwe.

 

[TeymurBlake]

I like this. Good move. Pakistan playing as much cricket as they can. Also ODI cricket again.

 

[Line and Length]

Babar, Shaheen and Rizwan rested for T20Is.

Looks like Azam may finally get his chance.

 

[ChTab]

Babar needs to score at least 1 century in ODI's. He has been scoring soft runs lately that needs to end now.

 

[shamaan]

Looks like Azam may finally get his chance.

Rizwan and safraz for the tests vs zimbabwe

Azam and rohail for t20s vs south africa

 

[shamaan]

Good stuff.

Zimbabwe tour starts 1 day after this ends though, so guess our main players won't be available for some of the T20 games vs SA (assuming the Zim series starts off with Tests).

Id be good opportunity for haider ali abdullah shafique saud shakeel kamran ghullam to play the tests against Zimbabwe will be interesting to see if shaheen,hassan,shaheen,rizwan play the Zimbabwe series or the south africa series

 

[Square Drive]

Where is the schedule for the Zimbabwe series?

Not been released yet.

 

[Hasan123]

Great news.

 

[gazza619]

I know we will probably get smashed in the test matches in SA, but still i am an old schooler and find limited overs only tour rather pointless.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I know we will probably get smashed in the test matches in SA, but still i am an old schooler and find limited overs only tour rather pointless.

I was of the exact same opinion we'd get thrashed. I want some easy test series now so that our players regain some confidence. Frankly i would've wanted some of them to play the county cricket which also is due to start in April.

 

[moghul]

I'm not happy, safety comes first. South African variant of covid 19 is a big health concern ATM , its far more contagious and to some extend resistant to the vaccine.

 

[Markhor]

Aren't those the bounciest pitches in South Africa ? Might struggle there.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Aren't those the bounciest pitches in South Africa ? Might struggle there.

The pitched for LOIs are pretty flat. It is the bowling that has more chances of struggling.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

Not been released yet.

Then how can you say the tour begins 1 day after this one?

 

[Justcrazy]

It would have been better If Pakistan would have played a couple of Tests.

 

[Square Drive]

Then how can you say the tour begins 1 day after this one?

Read the OP. I'm basing it off of that.

"The tour to South Africa was originally planned for October 2020, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has now been rescheduled for April, prior to Pakistan’s two Test and three T20I tour to Zimbabwe, which will commence on 17 April."

 

[gazza619]

My 20 players for SA tour:
1. Sharjeel Khan
2. Mohammad Rizwan
3. Babar Azam
4. Mohammad Hafeez
5. Haider Ali
6. Shadab Khan
7. Imad Wasim
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Hasan Ali
10. Shaheen Afridi
11. Usman Qadir

Spare bowlers:
12. Mohammad Nawaz
13. Mohammad Hasnain
14. Amad Butt
15. Zahid Mehmood
16. Amir Yameen

Spare batsmen:
17. Azam Khan
18. Sohaib Maqsood
19. Sarfaraz Ahmed
20. Umar Amin

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Its time for PCB to rest Shaheen.

And ideally we will give a chance to the top players in the PSL. World Cup is not that far away, and so far only Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen, and Hafeez deserve a spot in a 15 man team.

 

[Line and Length]

Its time for PCB to rest Shaheen.

And ideally we will give a chance to the top players in the PSL. World Cup is not that far away, and so far only Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen, and Hafeez deserve a spot in a 15 man team.

Misbah and Waqar will run Shaheen into the ground to protect their jobs. Don’t think he’ll be getting a rest anytime soon, unfortunately.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Misbah and Waqar will run Shaheen into the ground to protect their jobs. Don’t think he’ll be getting a rest anytime soon, unfortunately.

I agree that's what they are doing. It would be especially shameful if they play him against Zimbabwe. But they might.

 

[Firebat]

Excited for this series. Will hopefully be a full strength Pakistan vs full strength SA

 

[Mesozoic]

Easy 2-1 and 3-1 for South Africa if they play their best team.

Way too many chinks in Pak's white ball teams and they'll be exposed in challenging conditions.

 

[anakwalajinn]

Not been released yet.

Then how do you know it starts one day after this ome?

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

Read the OP. I'm basing it off of that.

"The tour to South Africa was originally planned for October 2020, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has now been rescheduled for April, prior to Pakistan’s two Test and three T20I tour to Zimbabwe, which will commence on 17 April."

No....they will actually travel to Zimbabwe on 17th.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

Read the OP. I'm basing it off of that.

"The tour to South Africa was originally planned for October 2020, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has now been rescheduled for April, prior to Pakistan’s two Test and three T20I tour to Zimbabwe, which will commence on 17 April."

I see. Thanks.

 

[MenInG]

The Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to send its entire cricket contingent for tours to South Africa and Zimbabwe in March-April by a special chartered flight to avoid any COVID-19 complications.

"The board is working on this option because the consensus is that sending so many players and officials on a commercial flight to Africa could be risky," a source in the board said.

He also disclosed that the selectors would be picking players for the Tests, ODI and T20Is for both tours and they will return home together.

Pakistan is due to tour South Africa from late March to play ODIs and T20 Internationals in Johannesburg and Centurion and later fly to Harare for a Test and ODI series against Zimbabwe.

"The experience we had while sending the players and officials on a commercial flight to New Zealand was not a good one and the team had to face many problems because of this after landing in Auckland. That is why we are now working on a plan to send them via a chartered flight."

The source said a chartered flight would also be used to fly the team from South Africa to Zimbabwe and while returning home.

As many as 10 Pakistani players tested positive for COVID-19 after landing in Auckland and had to spend 14 days in total quarantine in Christchurch instead of the originally planned three-day isolation.

The Pakistan board had also got the ECB to arrange for a chartered flight to fly the team from Lahore to London last year.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...abwe-by-chartered-flight-101613811428464.html

 

[sweep_shot]

It should be a good series. Both Pakistan and South Africa are at the same level currently.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Easy 2-1 and 3-1 for South Africa if they play their best team.

Way too many chinks in Pak's white ball teams and they'll be exposed in challenging conditions.

Dont see that happening. SA barely won 3-2 the last time they played Pakistan in ODIs. SA are even weaker now and Pakistan are stronger.

 

[Sohaib]

I'd have liked to see a 3-match test series instead and switched the tests scheduled for the Zimbabwe tour to white ball formats, but unfortunately Supersport would never have agreed to a change in the schedule. CSA are desperate for any kind of content this season.

Now that the PSL 6 is prematurely over, or postponed, I hope we can have a Test series included on this tour. If three-test series isn't possible, hopefully can have two.

South Africa gotta get covid under control first

About that....yeah. Well they successfully hosted Sri Lanka. Just had their own Domestic Twenty20 tournament concluded(without any threats from their sponsors/team owners to pull of tournament........unlike PSL) and could have completed the series against England late last year if England didn't pulled out.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

LOL might as well begin the countdown to this now...a month earlier