ABU DHABI // The fallout from India’s shortened tour of South Africa in December has provided an unexpected boon for Pakistan. Officials from both boards yesterday announced the formation of a limited-overs tour of South Africa by Pakistan, beginning immediately after the ongoing series in the UAE concludes on November 15.
Pakistan will play three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals in just under two weeks, beginning with a T20 in Johannesburg on November 20 and ending with the third ODI at Centurion on November 30.
Those three ODIs mean the two sides will have played each other 14 times in 2013.
Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s captain, said it gives his young side the exposure he feels they desperately need.
“We benefit from that because we’re playing against a top side in the world, where you learn a lot and you get mentally stronger,” he said. “You really get some confidence when you play good cricket against them. When we were there in February, we played some good cricket in ODIs against them. From a team perspective, it is good for our young team to play against such a top side in the world.”
Though South Africa would have preferred a longer, more lucrative Indian tour, their captain, AB de Villiers, was pleased to have more competition scheduled against a side they could conceivably play in big ICC tournaments over the next couple of years.
“It is still great to play against the team like Pakistan,” De Villiers said.
“Some of the stadiums will get more good games. Pakistan have a world-class bowling attack and very dangerous batters. It is, overall, good for the game.”
