India not to play any practice match before South Africa Tests, tour game cancelled

India's two-day tour game ahead of their three-match Test series in South Africa has been cancelled, Cricket South Africa (CSA) said on Monday. The Indians have instead, as per CSA, opted for training sessions on those days.

"Please be advised that the two-day warm-up match for India at Eurolux Boland Park will no longer be taking place. India have opted for training sessions on those days," the CSA said in a release.

No official reason has been given for the cancellation of the warm-up game but the change in schedule would mean that India will head into the Test series - starting January 5 next year in Cape Town - without a practice match.

Meanwhile, in a first, young pacers Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan, Navdeep Saini and Basil Thampi will be travelling with the Indian team to South Africa as net bowlers, a top BCCI official said.

The idea is to help the visiting batsmen prepare well for the South African fast bowlers.

The timings for the day-night ODI matches have been changed too. All the games have been advanced by half an hour.

Here is the full schedule of India's tour of South Africa: 

January 05-09, Fri: South Africa vs India, 1st Test 

January 13-17, Wed: South Africa vs India, 2nd Test 

January 24-28, Sun: South Africa vs India, 3rd Test 

February 1: South Africa vs India, 1st ODI, Durban

February 4: South Africa vs India, 2nd ODI, Centurion

February 7: South Africa vs India, 3rd ODI, Cape Town

February 10: South Africa vs India, 4th ODI, Johannesburg

February 13: South Africa vs India, 5th ODI, Port Elizabeth

February 16: South Africa vs India, 6th ODI, Centurion

February 18: South Africa vs India, 1st T20, Johannesburg

February 21: South Africa vs India, 2nd T20, Centurion

February 24: South Africa vs India, 3rd T20, Cape Town