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The South African officials are hoping their team would give a forceful performance in a series of international assignments including a home contest against Pakistan in its lead up to next year’s World Cup.

The South Africans would host Pakistan for three Tests and five one-day matches from early January to mid of February next year and are expecting that a spate of good results in the coming months would help them overtake Inzamam-ul-Haq’s men in the ICC Test rankings.

The Pakistanis are currently ranked ahead of South Africa at number three in the list behind champions Australia and England. The South Africans are placed at number four.

Gerald Majola, the CEO of Cricket South Africa, was quoted as saying by Cricinfo on Saturday that officials have prepared a hectic schedule for the national team in a bid to improve the squad’s international ranking and bench strength.

According to the schedule prepared by the South Africans, Pakistan will play their Tests at Centurion, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, followed by five ODIs, with the last ending on February 14, just weeks before the start of the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.

Pakistan in South Africa: Jan 6-8 Tour Match - Kimberley; Jan 11-15 1st Test - Centurion; Jan 19 -23 2nd Test - Port Elizabeth; Jan 26 -303rd Test - Cape Town; Feb 2 1st ODI - Johannesburg (d/n); Feb 4 2nd ODI - Centurion; Feb 9 3rd ODI - Port Elizabeth (d/n); Feb 11 4th ODI - Cape Town; Feb 14 5th ODI - Durban (d/n).

Source:The News