KARACHI, June 21: Karachi is set to host its first Test against South Africa when Graeme Smith’s team tours Pakistan this September-October for two Tests and five One-day Internationals.

According to the schedule released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday, the South Africans, who are due to arrive either on Sept 25 or 26 in the port city, will play a three-day practice match in Karachi before the first Test which is scheduled to begin at the National Stadium from Oct 1.

The visitors will then move to Lahore for the Oct 8-12 second Test. South Africa are also slated to make their maiden appearance in Peshawar — which was blacklisted by the Shaharyar M. Khan-led PCB regime as an international venue last August for security reasons — when they play the second ODI there on Oct 21.

The remaining matches in the one-day series, which starts after Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, are slated to be played at Lahore (Oct 18), Rawalpindi (Oct 21), Multan (Oct 26) and Faisalabad (Oct 29).

Karachi would have hosted the final Test of the three-match series when South Africa toured Pakistan in 2003-04 after being declared safe by a South African security delegation earlier. But an isolated bomb explosion at a deserted office building just two days before the Proteas’ arrival persuaded the then United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) to cancel the tour.

Shortly afterwards, though, the UCBSA changed its stance following a strong reaction from PCB which threatened to seek compensation in case of tour cancellation. The South African board allowed the tour to go ahead on condition that Karachi and Peshawar be scrapped from the schedule.

The Test series was reduced to two matches (at Lahore and Faisalabad), preceded by five ODIs (two each at Lahore and Rawalpindi and one at Faisalabad).

This time the PCB had also proposed a one-dayer in Karachi but Cricket South Africa (CSA) has only agreed to play a Test. In the past, South Africa have played just three ODIs in Karachi — a 1994-95 triangular series fixture against Pakistan, the group match of the 1996 World Cup against Pakistan and the quarter-final of the same event against the West Indies. Other than these matches, the Proteas played just a three-day game here to start the 1997-98 tour.

Since the start of the forthcoming tour is still more than three months away, the itinerary could still change if something dramatic happens on the political front with the presidential election also due in October.

In a packed international season, which also includes the inaugural World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa from Sept 12 to 24, Pakistan would virtually have no time to rest after the home series against South Africa since they are set to tour India from Nov 2 for five One-day Internationals and three Tests.

South Africa tour of Pakistan:

Sept 25 or 26: Arrival in Karachi.

Sept 27-29: Three-day match (Karachi).

Oct 1-5: First Test (Karachi).

Oct 8-12: Second Test (Lahore).

Oct 18: First One-day International (Lahore, D/N).

Oct 21: Second One-day International (Peshawar, D/N).

Oct 23: Third One-day International (Rawalpindi, D/N).

Oct 26: Fourth One-day International (Multan, D/N).

Oct 29: Fifth One-day International (Faisalabad, D/N).

Oct 30: Departure to South Africa.