Karachi, Sept.26 : The South African cricket team arrived in Karachi on Wednesday to play two Test matches and five One-day Internationals against Pakistan.

Tight security measures were taken at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on the arrival of the visiting team. Dozens of police officers including elite commandos were deployed at the airport. They surrounded the team as they left the Jinnah terminal building.

The 27-member South African contingent, consists of 14 players and 13 officials, arrived at Karachi by a foreign flight. The officials of the Karachi City Cricket Association received the visitors and garlanded them.

Captain Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Nitni were the centre of attraction at the airport. None of the players of South Africa was allowed to talk with the media.

The team was taken to hotel from the airport amid tight security. A large number of police mobiles escorted the team.

Security measures were tight at the hotel also. The media men were kept away from the visiting players there

Meanwhile, a large re-play screen is being installed at National Stadium in Karachi.

Measuring 75 meter long and 44 meter wide, the screen is being installed at a cost of Rs 7 million, The News reported.

Development work in the National Stadium is in progress in preparation for the first Test match to be played against South Africa from October 1.

The dressing room is being carpeted and the main building of the stadium is being whitewashed while work on the floodlights of the stadium is also in progress.

This is for the first time that South Africa will play a Test match in Karachi.

Spectators can expect better facilities when they come to see the match at the stadium, said a Karachi Cricket Association official. (With inputs from ANI)