South Africa To Host Zimbabwe On Boxing Day, India's Tour Curtailed

India’s tour to South Africa has been curtailed to three Tests while an additional One-Day International has been added. According to International Cricket Council’s Future Tour Programme, India was originally supposed to play four Tests, 5 ODIs and three T20Is but Virat Kohli & Co. will now take on the Proteas in three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is.

Meanwhile, with India confirmed of not playing the Boxing Day Test as well as the tradition New Year’s Test starting from January 2, South Africa are all set to host Zimbabwe for a four-day day-night match in Port Elizabeth, starting from December 26. The South African board is currently awaiting for the ICC’s approval to call the match against Zimbabwe a Test.

“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,” Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.

“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,” he added.

Lorgat further said that Cricket South Africa was compelled to cut the Test matches to three against India due to time constraints. India’s series against Sri Lanka finishes on  December 24, while South Africa’s first Test against Australia begins on March 1, leaving less than two months for South Africa to squeeze the full tour against India.

“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,” said Lorgat.

The South African board also said that the schedule of the series against India would be announced shortly.