South Africa hope to tour Pakistan for the first time in 12 years

Proteas board to send security delegation to assess feasibility of playing in the country in early 2021

Pakistan players during a practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadiumon Tuesday. AFP

South Africa will send a security delegation to Pakistan this weekend to assess the feasibility of playing in the country in early 2021, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Tuesday.

If the tour goes ahead it will be South Africa's first visit to Pakistan since 2007/08.

Two subsequent away tours were staged in the UAE because of security concerns following a 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

No details of the planned fixtures were revealed but according to the International Cricket Council's future tours programme South Africa are due to play in two world Test championship matches as well as three T20s in January and February.

Tuesday's announcement confirmed South Africa will host Sri Lanka in two world Test championship matches over the local summer holiday period.

The first Test will be in Centurion from December 26 to 30 and the second Test will be in Johannesburg from January 3 to 7.

After the CSA's entire board resigned on Monday, acting chief executive Kugandrie Govender said the matches against Sri Lanka, like those for the upcoming white-ball series against England, would be played without spectators because of Covid-19 restrictions.

On their previous visit to South Africa in 2018/19, Sri Lanka gained an upset 2-0 series win – the first by an Asian team in a Test series in South Africa.

CSA also announced Australia would visit South Africa for three world Test championship matches in March and April 2021, to be followed by Pakistan, who will play three one-day internationals and three T20 internationals. Dates for these tours will be announced later.

It was previously announced South Africa will host England in three T20 and three ODIs in Cape Town and Paarl between November 27 and December 9.