Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed the schedule for India’s tour to the Rainbow Nation in the beginning of next year. Earlier, it was reported that India will play 4 Tests in the country but now it has been cut down to 3 and as a compensation, an additional ODI will be played.
The New Year Test match will be played from 5th January at Newlands, Capetown. The tour will include 3 Tests, 6 ODIs and 3 T20Is.
The release also stated, “The time constraints faced by India have forced us to reduce the Test matches to three while increasing white ball cricket to six ODIs and three T20I matches.”
India will be finishing their home series against Sri Lanka in the last week of December and the team will travel to South Africa on the 28th of the month. The men in blue will play a two-day practice match at Boland Park on December 30 and 31.
Zimbabwe invited for Boxing Day Test
CSA has given an invitation to Zimbabwe for a four-day Day-Night Test at St. George’s Park whose Test status will be subject to approval from the ICC. “To ensure we do not disappoint our loyal fans over the traditional Boxing Day period and to take advantage of our brand-new lights at St George’s Park, we will host Zimbabwe in the first ever 4-day D/N Test match to be played. The Test status of the match is subject to ICC approval.” Haroon Lorgat, CSA Chief Executive said.
“We have now finalised the fixtures for a very busy home summer of international cricket,” Lorgat said. “The Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela Test series starts at Newlands on Friday, January 5 and will be a series to be watched as the number 1 and 2 best ranked teams in the world challenge for the Freedom Trophy.” he added.
“This will give us a total of 10 home Test matches this summer against Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, India and Australia, making this our busiest home Test season ever. The extensive revamping of our international grounds are on schedule and the D/N Test match promises to be a world-class experience for the players and fans. The Proteas are currently ranked No. 1 and India No. 3 in ODI cricket, so fans will have the chance to see great cricket in the limited overs format too,” concluded Lorgat.