简体中文
FILE PHOTO: South African cricket players and team officials arrive at the airport in Kolkata./Getty Images
The two-match Test series between South Africa and Sri Lanka scheduled for later this month will go ahead as planned, Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed on Thursday.
The series is due to be played from December 26-30 at SuperSport Park in Centurion and January 3-7 at Imperial Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
"The series, which forms part of the ICC World Test Championship, is very much still on course and the Boards look forward to a successful and competitive clash between two teams that are equally thrilled to return to red-ball action," a joint statement from both nation’s boards said.
The confirmation of the series is a welcome boost for South Africa which was hit by the cancellation of a three-match ODI series against England earlier this month.
"We are thankful that these discussions have allayed any trepidation around CSA's ability to successfully host home tours in these unpredicted times," acting CSA CEO Kugandrie Govender said.
CSA also announced the men's national squad will also travel to Pakistan next year for their first tour of the nation since 2007.
The tour consists of two Tests in Karachi from January 26-30 and Rawalpindi from February 4-8. Those will be followed by three T20s in Lahore on February 11, 13 and 14.
The squad is expected to arrive in Karachi on January 16 and will go into quarantine before beginning with training and inter-squad practice matches.
The T20 series will be South Africa's first-ever in Pakistan. The previous two T20 international series they played were hosted by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
South Africa will become the fourth country to tour Pakistan in the last 15 months after Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
"The home series against South Africa will complete the process for full resumption and restoration of international cricket in Pakistan, which started in 2015," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director – International, Zakir Khan said.
(With input from agencies)
