It’s more than likely, says CSA spokesman.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) is yet to reply to the Indian cricket Board’s request for a Test series but the officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are confident that a confirmation could come any time.
In fact, the BCCI is expecting a reply in the next 48 hours. “It is just a matter of time. They have agreed in principle for the series. We’re expecting a confirmation in day or two,” a top Board official told DNA. The series is likely to take place in February-March next year.
The CSA is believed to be making adjustments in its domestic fixtures before giving the BCCI a final go ahead. For the record, it maintains that it has not set any time limit for replying to the BCCI. “We don’t have a time-frame. We’re looking at a few options. We’ll reply once we are through with our consultation process,” CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said on Monday.
However, a South Africa team spokesman said that it is more than likely that Graeme Smith & Co will come to India for the Tests. “We’ve not heard anything from the CSA but I understand that it is more than likely to happen. But the final announcement will be made by the BCCI,” he said, indicating that the players have been spoken to about the tour.
It may be noted that the BCCI had sent the South African Board a request to convert the scheduled five ODIs into a two-Test and three-ODI series. It was a belated decision by the BCCI which wanted to give Team India a chance to retain their No.1 ranking in Tests. Since beating Sri Lanka earlier this month, MS Dhoni & Co are the top side in ICC Test rankings.
There are already speculations about the venues for the two Tests and the three ODIs. Sources say the five-day matches could be held in Nagpur and Kolkata and the three one-dayers could be in Jaipur, Goa and Jamshedpur.
There is also a chance that Vizag, which lost out in hosting the Sri Lanka match because of the Telangana crisis, is also in the reckoning.
When contacted, a BCCI official said the venues will be finalised once the go-ahead from the CSA is obtained. “Once we get the confirmation, the fixtures committee will have to sit. Most likely we may hold a teleconference before announcing the venues,” the official said.
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