Pakistan are willing to provide governmental level security for South Africa for their tour matches in Peshawar and Karachi, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Monday.
The United Cricket Board of South Africa wrote to the PCB earlier this month asking them to consider moving the matches to 'safer' venues.
"What we know is that the UCBSA is finding it difficult to get insurance for their team for the matches in Karachi and Peshawar because of security concerns," PCB chief executive Rameez Raja told Reuters on Monday.
"But we have assured them again that the conditions in both cities are not bad and South Africa can play without major concerns. We are even willing to provide them state level security for the series," Raja said.
The UCBSA had been advised by their foreign ministry on the basis of feedback from the South African high commission in Islamabad that Karachi and Peshawar are areas of concern.
The UCBSA's communications director Bronwyn Wilkinson confirmed on Monday that they had received the letter from Raja which they had passed on to the foreign ministry.
"We can't ignore government advice," Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson said there was no deadline to resolve the issue, but time was running short with South Africa scheduled to leave for Pakistan on September 21 to play three one-day internationals and three Test matches.
Tony Irish, the chief executive of the South African Cricketers' Association, said: "The players are pretty concerned about the situation, but we're satisfied with how the UCBSA is handling the matter."
Karachi is scheduled to host a warm-up game, a one-day international on September 26 and the third Test starting on October 23. The second Test is due to be played in Peshawar (October 16-20).
(Additional reporting by Telford Vice in Durban)
