The series is scheduled to go ahead with the original dates

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have declined the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to alter the dates of their series in February 2013.

The PCB stated that they were trying to change the dates due to a busy international schedule, which will see them play a limited overs series in December against arch-rivals India for the first time since bi-lateral ties between the two countries became virtually non-existent after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008.

The PCB also announced that they asked CSA to change the dates in order to expand their 12-day window for the proposed Pakistan Premier League, which is set to begin after the tour to South Africa.

Speaking exclusively to ESPNcricinfo, PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said: “We wanted to expand our window (for the T20 league), but they (CSA) didn’t agree so we decided to continue as per the Future Tours Programme, CSA told the PCB that they had already announced and sold tickets and it was not possible to make any change.”

Ashraf noted that the Pakistan Premier League was on track to take place in March 2013, but added that he hopes it will not clash with the Indian Premier League (IPL) in April since this will drive all international superstars away.

South Africa and Pakistan are scheduled to play three Test matches five ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals during the tour which starts on February 1 and ends on March 24.

CSA declined to advance any of dates in the series due to their own busy international schedule, which will see them face New Zealand in December 2012 and January 2013.

Speaking exclusively to ESPNcricinfo as well, acting CEO of CSA Jacques Faul said: “”They (PCB) asked us to move the tour earlier but it was just not possible because of our schedule, we always try to accommodate other countries but we can’t always manage. The program is very busy these days. We also play our domestic competitions while tours are ongoing.”