KARACHI, June 5: Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi, last year hit by terror attacks, will stage a One-day International and a Test match when South Africa tour the country in September, officials said on Thursday.

“South Africa agreed to playing in Karachi straight away and we see no problems in staging international matches in the city,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Ramiz Raja told AFP.

South Africa will play three Tests and as many one-day games on their tour to Pakistan from Sept 22 to Oct 28.

Two bomb blasts in the commercial hub of Pakistan, one outside a five-star hotel where the New Zealand team was staying, and the other outside the US consulate saw 26 people killed in May and June last year.

New Zealand packed their bags and refused to play the second Test in Karachi on May 8 following 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 refused to visit amid security concerns.

“Karachi is our main Test venue and it is difficult to imagine it not hosting any matches in a series,” Ramiz said.

International cricket returns to Pakistan in mid-August when Bangladesh tours the country followed with tours by South Africa and New Zealand.

“We will finalise the itinerary of New Zealand’s five one-day games in November this year after consultation with New Zealand officials very soon,” he said.

Pakistan also hope that a plan of two one-day games, one each in India and Pakistan, is also materialised in September this year.

“The ball is in India’s court and I am sure that we will have a dialogue on that in the ICC and Asian Cricket Council meetings in London next week,” Ramiz said.

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 cricketing ties due to political tension.

South Africa last toured Pakistan in 1996-97 and won the three-match Test series 1-0.

Schedule:

Sept 22: Arrival.

Sept 24: One-day practice match (Karachi).

Sept 26: First One-day International (Karachi).

Sept 29: Second One-day International (Quetta or Rawalpindi).

Oct 3: Third One-day International (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).—AFP