BCCI to plan T20I series at home against New Zealand and South Africa before T20 World Cup – Reports

BCCI to plan T20I series at home against New Zealand and South Africa before T20 World Cup – Reports

Indian Cricket Team

According to reports from The Times of India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has planned to hold T20I series against New Zealand and South Africa in India just before the ICC T20 World Cup which is scheduled to take place in October this year. The reason for the same is to get the Indian players accustomed to the conditions as well as to the shortest format of the game ahead of the all-important tournament.

India are currently occupied with the T20I series against England in Ahmedabad where they are trailing at present. With two more games to go in the series, there isn’t any other T20I series before the T20 World Cup according to the original schedule. The Asia Cup will take place in June but India is expected to send a second string team there due to the final of the World Test Championship taking place at the same time. The BCCI has therefore, decided to accommodate two more series for the team before the World Cup.

BCCI official confirms the news

BCCI
BCCI

Confirming the plans to hold series against South Africa and New Zealand in India before the ICC T20 World Cup, a BCCI official reportedly spoke to The Times of India and said, “South Africa and New Zealand are scheduled to come to India to play a couple of T20I series before the World Cup. The modalities are to be finalized. The board is aware that the team needs to be in touch with the format before the Cup starts.”

It is noteworthy that an agreement is already in place for a South African tour to India after the same was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is only the schedule which hasn’t been decided yet. Further, India will also have a test series at home after the T20 World Cup against New Zealand following which they will travel for a tour to South Africa.

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