September 25, 2003	Thursday	Rajab 27, 1424

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KARACHI, Sept 24: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially released on Wednesday South Africa’s revised tour itinerary schedule, with all nine matches confined to the Punjab.

The tourists are expected to arrive at Lahore on Monday (Sept 29) on a month-long trip. They start off with a one-day practice match under lights at the Gaddafi Stadium against a PCB XI.

The first two of the five One-day Internationals will also be played in Lahore on Oct 3 and 5.

The teams then move onto Faisalabad for the third one-dayer at the Iqbal Stadium on Oct 7, the only day fixture in the one-day programme.

The last two one-day ties are to be staged at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Oct 10 and 12.

The first Test will take place at Lahore from Oct 17 to 21 with Faisalabad hosting the second and final Test from Oct 24 to 28.

Graeme Smith’s men were originally expected to arrive here in the early hours of Monday on a 36-day trip comprising three One-day Internationals and as many Tests (at Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi) after the jinxed tour was given a final go-ahead last week by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB).

However, UCB then decided to pull out of the tour — after a minor bomb blast in Karachi last Friday, in which no casualty was reported.

Schedule

Sept 29: South Africa arrive in Lahore.

Oct 1: v PCB XI (Lahore, D/N).

Oct 3: First One-day International (Lahore, D/N).

Oct 5: Second One-day International (Lahore, D/N).

Oct 7: Third One-day International (Faisalabad).

Oct 10: Fourth One-day International (Rawalpindi, D/N).

Oct 12: Fifth One-day International (Rawalpindi, D/N).

Oct 17-21: First Test (Lahore).

Oct 24-28: Second Test (Faisalabad).

Oct 29: South Africa leave for home.