BCCI cut Tests on SA request: report

Citing a packed schedule of its national team next year, Cricket South Africa had asked BCCI to drop the Test series from their earlier scheduled full tour, CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said.

“The schedule is very crowded, with T20 World Cup in the West Indies and Indian Premier League, so we agreed with the BCCI that next year’s tour would be one-dayers only,” Majola was quoted as saying by ‘The Guardian’.

“We will play the Test matches at a later stage that is convenient for both countries,” he said.

Majola, however, said that the decision to drop the Test matches and play only ODIs had been taken some time ago, and ruled out that it was in response to India ousting South Africa from the top spot in ICC rankings.

He said the BCCI had wanted South Africa to reschedule their ongoing home series against England so that the Proteas’ tour of India could take place earlier.
“We couldn’t agree to that. This tour has been planned for some time.”