South Africa game for ODI series

SA coach said his team would play the series against England if Pak refuse to take the field.

South Africa would "jump at the chance" of playing a one-day series against England if Pakistan refuse to take the field as a fallout of the ball tampering controversy currently dogging cricket, national coach Mickey Arthur has said.

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"We would be delighted to go, we'd jump at the chance, Arthur told a website, but added, "although I must stress that I have heard absolutely nothing official and I think it's nothing more than speculation at the moment."

South Africa withdrew from the tri-series in Sri Lanka, also involving India, after a bomb blast near their hotel in Colombo.

"We were very frustrated at what happened in Sri Lanka and we hope Pakistan and England are able to sort things out, but - although there would be a heck of a lot to organise - we'd love to fill the gap if it ever came to that," Arthur said.

As of now, the only matches South Africa have before the Champions Trophy in India are three one-dayers against Zimbabwe on September 14, 17 and 20.