Pakistan will try to convince South Africa not to change cricket fixtures over security fears during their tour of the country later this month, officials said Thursday.

"We have received a letter from the United Cricket Board (UCB) of South Africa requesting to relocate matches from Karachi and Peshawar but we will convince them not to change the fixtures," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Rameez Raja told this news agency.

Reports from South Africa said cricket authorities had asked the PCB to change fixtures from Karachi and a Test from the border city of Peshawar amid concern for the team's safety.

"I will write them in the next two days and request them not to demand any venue changes, we cant deprive the people of Karachi from international cricket," said Raja, a former captain.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in South Africa told the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) that although they did not think South Africans would be targeted specifically, there were nevertheless "areas of concern", the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported.

And Bronwyn Wilkinson, head of communications at the board, said the UCBSA wants fixtures set for Karachi and Peshawar to be played at other venues.

"We know their foreign office has not forbidden them to travel to these cities because the situation is safe and we hosted two Tests in these cities against Bangladesh in the last fortnight," Raja said.

"The tour itinerary was confirmed by the UCBSA and we hope all will settle down."

The South Africans arrive in Pakistan on September 22 and play a warm up one-day game in Karachi two days later. They will then play the first of three one-day internationals in the port city on September 26.

"We have awarded the warm up one-day to former Pakistan opener Shoaib Mohammad and the one-day international to former captain Wasim Bari as benefit games and they have already done a lot of work," said Raja.

South Africa also plays three Tests in Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Karachi during the tour, which ends on October 28.

South African skipper Graeme Smith earlier said that the side would abide by whatever decision the UCB made regarding the tour.

Reports from England, where they are playing a Test series, also suggested the South African players have discussed security in Pakistan.

Pakistan suffered a cricket drought as foreign teams have refused to tour the country following two suicide bomb blasts in Karachi during Test series in May and June last year.

Pakistan was forced to play two of its home series matches against the West Indies and Australia at neutral venues last year as both teams refused to tour the country.

The first blast on May 8 outside a hotel where the New Zealand team was staying forced them to pack their bags and cut the tour short by one Test.

However, New Zealand are set to compensate for that match by touring Pakistan in November this year when they will play five one-day games.

New Zealand has yet to finalise the itinerary of the tour but have already refused to play in Karachi.