India Likely To Tour South Africa For T20I Series In August

South Africa are optimistic about India’s visit for a three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series in August, Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive Jacques Faul told in an online press conference on Thursday. Faul clarified in his statement that CSA are holding talks with the BCCI for the series. However, the Indian cricket board is still to affirm their stand on the same.

Incidentally, South Africa and India played their last international match against each other, before cricket action was brought to a halt due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. In their last meeting, after the first of three-match ODI series in Dharmasala was washed off, with the entire series called off due to the pandemic situation.

However, the Indian cricket board in discussion with Cricket South Africa, had asserted that they will look to re-schedule the series as the situation returns to normalcy. As soon as the South African players returned to their homeland they were tested for Covid-19 as a precautionary measure with none of members testing positive.

CSA in constant touch with BCCI for the T20I tour

Graeme Smith, who was recently confirmed as the CSA director of cricket, has confirmed that his board his constantly in touch with the Indian cricket board and discussing the possibility of their visit. He, however, said the series is at a ‘guess-work stage’ but has a possibility of taking place behind closed doors.

“We have been talking to them and the commitment is there to get the three T20s done,” Smith said at a news conference on Thursday.

“There is an element of guesswork, no-one knows what things will be like at the end of August.

“But we believe we are a socially-distanced sport and that we can play behind closed doors.”

“We have been talking to them and the commitment is there to get the three T20s done,” Smith said at a news conference on Thursday.

“There is an element of guesswork, no-one knows what things will be like at the end of August.

“But we believe we are a socially-distanced sport and that we can play behind closed doors.”

South Africa had recently postponed the series against Sri Lanka but put their weight behind India’s visit as it is touted to be a high-revenue tournament.