Coach relieved weary South Africa will get a break

By Ken Borland

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa coach Mickey Arthur on Friday said a proposed limited-overs series with Pakistan will not happen, providing a welcome break for his exhausted players.

"A lot of the senior players have played a helluva lot of cricket this year, it's taken its toll and they need a break," Arthur told a news conference.

"I'm sure the tri-series is not going to take place and, in retrospect, it's a relief the Champions Trophy was called off because we would have been back on a plane flying out on Sunday."

Arthur and his squad returned after their two-month tour of England, where they claimed their first test series win in 43 years but lost the limited-overs series 4-0.

The coach said his players would be in no shape to take part in another limited-overs series.

"I can't think of one player who was involved in both the test and one-day series in England who has not picked up a niggle.

Captain Graeme Smith's is suffering with an elbow injury, Mark Boucher has a fractured finger, Morne Morkel a side strain and Dale Steyn is yet to recover from a niggling shoulder injury, Arthur said.

The Pakistan board have been in negotiations with Cricket South Africa to stage a one-day series in South Africa, with Sri Lanka proposed as the other team. This month's Champions Trophy in Pakistan was postponed due to security concerns.