PCB confirms South Africa tri-series

Sri Lanka's Ajantha Mendis will join Pakistan and SA in the forthcoming tri-series

South Africa will host Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a triangular one-day series next month, the Pakistan Cricket Board have announced.

The series was arranged at the request of the PCB who wanted to fill the void left by the postponement of the ICC Champions Trophy, which should have taken place in September but was put back 13 months by the International Cricket Council because of security concerns.

"Cricket South Africa are finalising plans for a tri-series for us," said PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi.

"It would be played a few weeks after the South African team return from their tour of England.”

The PCB had hoped to convince India to participate in the tournament, but those efforts failed after the Board of Control for Cricket in India said they would rather use the break to prepare for the four-Test series against Australia.

"We are not thinking of taking part in any event," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said.

"We want to hold a preparatory camp for the players ahead of the important series against Australia," he said.

Pakistan have not played a Test match at home this year and have been starved of international cricket because of the political turmoil in the country.

Australia pulled out of a scheduled series in March citing safety concerns, while New Zealand also cancelled a three-match one-day series which was scheduled to be held just before the Champions Trophy.