Cricket South Africa revises India tour dates, first Test to be played on Boxing Day

India’s tour of South Africa will kick off at the Centurion on December 26. While Virat Kohli and company will play three Test matches and as many ODIs as scheduled, the four T20Is will be held at a ‘more opportune time’ next year. 

Cricket South Africa announced the revised dates of the tour as concerns about the omicron COVID-19 variant continue to grow. 

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“It is a pleasure for Cricket South Africa (CSA) to confirm the updated schedule for the India men’s tour to South Africa. As announced over the weekend, the tour has been reduced from three series to two; the Betway Test and One-Day International series, taking place from 26 December to 23 January 2022 across four venues, following successful engagement with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI),” CSA’s press release read. 

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“The Test series will form part of the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, while the ODI series will form part of the ICC Men’s World Cup Super League, the qualification tournament for the 2023 ICC Men’s World Cup,” the release further stated.

The updated schedule is as follows:

26-30 December 21 | 1st Betway WTC Test vs India | SuperSport Park, Centurion

03-07 January 22 | 2nd Betway WTC Test vs India | Imperial Wanderers, Johannesburg

11-15 January 22 | 3rd Betway WTC Test vs India | Six Gun Grill Newlands, Cape Town

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*The first two Betway Test matches will commence at 10:00 SAST and the third will begin at 10:30 SAST.

19 January 22 | 1st Betway ODI vs India | Eurolux Boland Park, Paarl

21 January 22 | 2nd Betway ODI vs India | Eurolux Boland Park, Paarl

23 January 22 | 3rd Betway ODI vs India | Six Gun Grill Newlands, Cape Town