Scheduled to visit Pakistan for a Test and ODI series later this year,
South Africa has expressed its concern over the brewing political scenario
in the country.
A six-member security delegation of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA)
is visiting the country to assess the security system ahead of the team's visit
to Pakistan from September 27 to play two tests and five one-day internationals.
The delegation members are inspecting the venues and meeting
security and government officials before they submit their report on conditions
for the Australian A and under-19 teams tours to Pakistan this year.
Media reports claim though the South Africans are concerned, they insist the
tour was still on.
General manager operations at CSA, Brian Basson, admitted cricket
bosses were worried about the situation after a surge of violence in recent
weeks following the military operation against Islamic militants in the Red
Mosque in Islamabad.
But he insisted he was optimistic that there would be no repeat of their withdrawal
from Sri Lanka last year.
Basson, who is awaiting a security assessment from Australia
ahead of their A-team tour said, "I have a very good relationship with
my Australian counterpart and I will certainly be asking for a copy of that
report." Pakistan Cricket Board officials have privately admitted
that if the security and political situation in Pakistan worsened, it could
face problems convincing touring teams to fulfill their commitments this season.
South Africa in 2003 had refused to play at Karachi for security
reasons.
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