BCCI and CSA unveils schedule for India’s multi-format tour of South Africa

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Schedule for India men’s tour of South Africa 2023-24

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have officially announced the schedule for the Indian men’s cricket team’s highly anticipated tour of South Africa. The tour is set to take place at the end of the year, following the conclusion of the 2023 ODI World Cup.

The multi-format tour will commence with a series of three T20 Internationals (T20Is). The first T20I will be held on December 10 in Durban, followed by matches on December 12 in Gqeberha and December 14 in Johannesburg. The T20I series promises to be an exciting contest between the two formidable sides.

The action will then shift to the One Day Internationals (ODIs), with the first match scheduled for December 17 in Johannesburg. The following two ODIs will take place on December 19 in Gqeberha and December 21 in Paarl, providing cricket fans with thrilling encounters as both teams battle for supremacy.

The tour will culminate with two Test matches, both of which are part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle. The first Test is set to be played at Centurion, starting from Boxing Day on December 26. This highly anticipated match will test the skills and mettle of both teams as they vie for crucial WTC points. The tour will conclude with the second Test, scheduled to take place in Cape Town from January 3, 2024.

“The Freedom Series is significant not just because it features two excellent Test teams, but also because it honours Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, two great leaders who shaped our respective nations, and the world around them,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a press release.

“The Boxing Day Test and the New Year Test are amongst the most important fixtures on the international cricket calendar and the schedule has been planned particularly around these marquee dates. India has always received strong support in South Africa, and I am confident that fans will be treated to some enthralling contests with no shortage of intensity,” he added.

Meanwhile, CSA Chairperson Lawson Naidoo said: “I eagerly await the arrival of the Indian Cricket Team and their passionate fans on our shores. This is an important tour for both teams and I am really pleased that we will have a full tour comprising all three formats of the game. Both South Africa and India boast exceptional talent, and we can look forward to exciting cricket and thrilling matches. The tour also allows us to showcase the best of South Africa and we have spread out matches across the nation. We share an excellent rapport with BCCI, and I thank them for their support right throughout.”