Pakistan announce new itinerary

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a revised itinerary for South Africa's forthcoming tour, on account of the security fears surrounding the proposed matches in Karachi and Peshawar.

South Africa had been due in Pakistan this week for three Tests and three one-day internationals, but last Friday's bomb blast in Karachi prompted the UCB to cancel the tour at the eleventh hour. They changed their minds after the PCB's furious reaction and intervention from the ICC.

Instead, the team will arrive next week for two Tests and five one-day matches, all scheduled for the relatively peaceful province of Punjab. "The itinerary was sent to the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) and is now approved with the South African team likely to arrive on September 29," said Samiul Hasan, the PCB spokesman. "The UCB still has to inform us about the exact date of arrival."

"All the matches in the new programme are distributed in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad," said Rameez Raja, the PCB chief executive. "We felt sorry for the people of Karachi and Peshawar, but the decision is taken to save the tour."

Revised itinerary