The Board of Control for Cricket in India is reportedly at loggerheads with its counterpart in South Africa over the fixture list for the Indian team’s upcoming tour in December. The Indian board wants Virat Kohli and his team to have at least a 12-day window for their preparation before the official tour commences, according to a report in The Times of India.
Cricket South Africa, though, had chalked out a full tour that included four Tests, three One-Day Internationals and as many Twenty20 Internationals. According to their original plan, the tour was set to take place in a 50-day time frame. However, the BCCI’s latest demand is set to derail the arrangement.
South Africa have a series lined up against Australia in March. India, meanwhile, finish with their series against Sri Lanka on December 24. The report stated that the Indian team is likely to reach the African country on December 27 and are not willing to play the first Test before January 10.
To accommodate India, South Africa have already forgone their traditional Boxing Day Test. Under the new circumstances, they stand to lose the New Year Test as well. The Indian team has said it will be unable to play a Test within five days of their arrival in South Africa, the report stated.
Another plan being mooted is shifting the limited overs fixtures before the Test series. However, it is unlikely to be expected as it would give the Indian side more time to get acclimatised. The BCCI is said to have communicated its demands and are awaiting a reply from CSA.
The CSA, meanwhile, is looking to fill the gap with a one-off Boxing Day Test against Pakistan or Afghanistan, the report stated.
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