Karachi 'safe' for South Africa, according to Pakistan Board

The port city of Karachi, which was hit last year by terror attacks, will stage a one-day international and a Test match when South Africa tour Pakistan in September, according to Rameez Raja, the chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "South Africa agreed to playing in Karachi straight away," he said, "and we see no problems in staging international matches in the city."

South Africa will play three Tests and three one-day internationals on their tour, which lasts from September 22 to October 28.

Some 26 people were killed after two bomb blasts in Karachi, the commercial hub of Pakistan, in May and June last year. One was outside the five-star hotel where the New Zealand cricket team was staying, and the other was outside the US consulate. New Zealand packed their bags and refused to play the second Test in Karachi after the first blast, which their players called the "trauma of their lives".

Pakistan had to play two of their home series on neutral venues last year after the West Indies and Australia declined to visit amid security concerns. But Rameez said: "Karachi is our main Test venue and it is difficult to imagine it not hosting any matches in a series."

International cricket returns to Pakistan in mid-August with a tour by Bangladesh, which will be followed by visits from South Africa and New Zealand. "I will finalise the itinerary of New Zealand's five one-day games in November this year after consultation with New Zealand officials very soon," said Rameez.

Pakistan also hopes that a plan of two one-day games, one each in India and Pakistan, comes off in September. "The ball is in India's court and I am sure that we will have a dialogue on that in the ICC [International Cricket Council] and ACC [Asian Cricket Council] meetings in London next week."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought permission from its government to clear the two-match series, to break a deadlock in cricket ties brought about by political tension.

South Africa last toured Pakistan in 1997-98, and won the three-match Test series 1-0.

South African tour itinerary
Sept 22 - arrive in Pakistan
Sept 24 - warm up match, Karachi
Sept 26 - First ODI, Karachi
Sept 29 - Second ODI, Quetta or Rawalpindi
Oct 3 - Third ODI, Lahore
Oct 5-7 - Three-day match, Rawalpindi
Oct 9-13 - First Test, Rawalpindi
Oct 16-20 - Second Test, Peshawar
Oct 23-27 - Third Test, Karachi