Cape Town will be hosting the third and final Test – the New Year’s Test – of India’s three-match series in South Africa later this winter after Cricket South Africa on Friday moved the marquee fixture out of Johannesburg.
Initially, Jo’burg was due to host not only the opening game of the Gandhi-Mandela Trophy but also the final encounter of the three-match affair. But, ESPNcricinfo reported, CSA was forced to move the game to Cape Town because of “strict bio-bubble rules” in Johannesburg.
The series still begins in Johannesburg, though, from December 17. It also features a Test match in Centurion before concluding in Newlands (January 3-7).
“CSA is excited to welcome India back to South Africa, which also significantly marks the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s first tour to India after re-entry into International Cricket in 1991. This tour affirms our unique relationship with the BCCI,”
said Graeme Smith, the former South Africa captain and current CSA director of cricket, in a media release.
During their full-fledged tour, India will also take on South Africa in three ODIs and four T20Is. The ODI series begins only four days after the Tests at Boland Park in Paarl on January 11. Cape Town will host the last two one-dayers on January 14 and 16.
The two teams will stay in Newlands for the first two of the four T20Is to be held on January 19 and 21. Indian finish off their month-long tour with a short return to Paarl, playing the final two T20Is on January 23 and 26, respectively.
The Test matches – played for the great Gandhi-Mandela Trophy, which India currently holds – will also be part of the two teams’ campaign for the new cycle of the World Test Championship that runs till 2023.
Apart from India, South Africa will host the Netherlands and Bangladesh during their home summer. The Dutch will be the first ones to arrive for a three-match ODI series part of the ICC Super League with matches in Centurion on November 26, 28 and December 1.
Bangladesh will be closing the season with three ODIs on March 18, 20 and 23, followed by two Tests on March 30–April 3 and April 7-11. The venues for the Bangladesh series are not yet confirmed.
