MUMBAI: ESPN STAR Sports, Asia’s number one broadcaster, will telecast live and exclusive, the one day international series between South Africa and Pakistan starting February 4, 2007. The two cricketing giants will kick off the series with a Twenty20 international on February 2. The Asian powerhouse will play the Proteas in a five ODI series in the African continent.

After a close fought and absorbing duel during the three test series the two countries will be looking to prepare for the upcoming World Cup and hoping for team camaraderie during the five ODIs scheduled till mid February. Pakistan will look to reverse the results of the last two ODI series between the two teams in South Africa, where the Afrikaans beat them 4-1 in 2002-03 and 3-2 in 2003-04. Overall the two teams have met 42 times with South Africa enjoying a 69 percent win record. The South African nation was also unbeaten for a 14 straight matches against Pakistan from 1995 to 1999.

South Africa has named seven black players in their 15 man squad and these will be the likely 15 the Proteas will go with for the World Cup in the Carribean. Coach Micky Arthur had revealed earlier that the ODI series against Pakistan will be South Africa’s dress rehearsal for the World Cup. Pakistan on the other hand will want to put behind the disappointment of losing the Test series and embark on their preparations for the bouncy pitches in West Indies. The Asian team will be bolstered by the return of Shabbir Ahmed but their top order batting is still a worry for Coach Bob Woolmer.

Catch the action live and exclusive on ESPN STAR Sports