The Proteas will play abroad for the first time since 2019 when they travel to Pakistan for three Tests and three T20Is at the end of the month.
The visit will also be South Africa’s first to Pakistan since 2007, meaning none of the current players have represented the national team over there before.
Luckily for them, they’ve got coach Mark Boucher and director of cricket Graeme Smith to ask for advice – both were in the team when South Africa beat Pakistan by 14 runs in their last ODI there in 2007.
Boucher and Smith, though, will have their work cut out on this tour.
With the Proteas set to leave the country on January 15, they will be in Pakistan for a month, with the final T20I taking place on February 14.
When they come back, Australia is set to visit for three Test matches, with Pakistan then coming to SA for a three-match ODI series.
All of this will be done in bio-bubbles before April, meaning the South African players will have very little time with loved ones.
Asked about their upcoming tour to Pakistan, captain Quinton de Kock says: “There are two sides to it.
“We’re excited to get there and play cricket – it will be a nice challenge. As for the rest of it, the outside field stuff is another challenge….
“We have a little bit more than a week off now and leave on the 15th, come back and will see how long that next break will be.
“We will probably only be home for two weeks in the next three months which is quite a challenge.
“Even though we’re in South Africa, we’re still in a bubble.
“It’s not the ideal thing, but it is what it is.”
Coach Boucher adds: “We’ll keep learning from bubble life – what we’ll have to do to try and life easier for players…”