South Africa-Pakistan Series
De Kock feels safe in Pakistan
||CF Desk||
South Africa skipper Quinton de Kock said that the security steps taken by the Pakistani authorities made the side feel safe and secure on their upcoming tour.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has been leading the team on their first tour of the Asian nation in more than 13 years. The 28-year-old, while talking to the media at a virtual press conference, acknowledged that they were concerned about the security precautions taken before departure.
“When we were coming here, security was a concern, if not the biggest concern. And then we landed here, we saw the security that was going on and everyone became calmer. Over the days, it’s become less worrying. We have been able to focus more on cricket.”
The squad is basically kept in a bubble at their Karachi hotel as a precaution against the coronavirus, but will practice in the local club grounds.
De Kock admitted that the playing conditions in Pakistan were unfamiliar to the team, although head coach Mark Boucher toured as a player in 1997, 2003 and 2007.
"We do understand that spin plays a big part in the subcontinent so we will have all our bases covered," said de Kock, who will play his 50th Test in Karachi.
Pakistan went years without playing home games after militant Islamists attacked the team bus of the Sri Lankan side in 2009.Pakistan and South Africa will be locking horns in the two-match Test series, beginning January 26. The two-match series will be a part World Test Championship (WTC).