South Africa players to get state guest level security in Pakistan

South African cricketers will be given state guest level security during their Pakistan tour after Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the arrangements. Pakistan PM's office has instructed the Interior and Foreign ministry to make arrangements for the state guests.

The South African team is scheduled to play two Tests (Karachi and Rawalpindi) and three T20 matches in Lahore.

As per arrangements being made by the Interior ministry a foolproof security plan has been prepared and around 500 personnel of the paramilitary Rangers will be on duty with the touring side.

South Africa's cricket team will head to Pakistan later this month for the first time in 14 years with captain Quinton de Kock excited by a new challenge but wary of the rigors of being



stuck in another bio-secure bubble.

South Africa last toured Pakistan in 2007 when they won the two-match series 1-0 and return for two Tests and three Twenty20 internationals later this month. International cricket has returned to Pakistan in the past 15 months following a militant attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009 that killed six policemen and two civilians.

The country has hosted Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe since September 2019, while England recently announced a short two-match 20-over series in October next year in the build-up to the T20 World Cup in India.

Cricket South Africa has announced an extended squad of 21 players for the tour with premier fast bowler Rabada included in the line-up after recovering from an injury.