CRICKET South Africa (CSA) has confirmed that its national cricket side and Australia will tour the country for a One-Day International (ODI) tri-series in August this year.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
According to the Future Tours programme schedule, Australia is due to visit Zimbabwe for a three-match ODI series with the hosts in July.
South Africa’s national side, which is popularly known as the Proteas, was expected to tour Zimbabwe soon after for two Tests, three ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals.
However, to bring more competitiveness and interest, the three nations have agreed to convert Australia’s ODI into a triangular series ahead of the series between Zimbabwe and the Proteas.
The triangular series will, however, result in Zimbabwe playing only one Test match instead of two as had been earlier stated on the Future Tours programme schedule.
CSA made the confirmation yesterday while announcing its international schedule before the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
“Cricket South Africa today announced a bumper programme of 23 ODI matches against five different ICC full-member countries to intensify the build-up for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year,” CSA said in a statement on their official website yesterday.
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“There could, in fact, be a 24th match if the Proteas Castle Lager ODI squad qualifies for the Final of the Triangular tournament against Zimbabwe and Australia in Harare in August and September.
“The Proteas will travel to Sri Lanka in July to play two Tests and three ODI’s. This will be followed by a trip to Zimbabwe in August/September for a single Test, three ODI’s as well as a triangular series involving Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia.”
“The Castle Lager Proteas ODI squad then travels to New Zealand in late October for a three match ODI series against the Black Caps. Thereafter, they remain in the Antipodes as they take on Australia in three T20 Internationals and five ODI’s during November 2014.
“The relevant Boards will soon announce the detailed itinerary with venues and dates for the Proteas away tours,” read the statement.
South Africa last toured Zimbabwe in June last year for an unofficial Twenty20 tri-series also involving Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe thrashed South Africa by nine wickets in the final.
Australia’s cricket team will be touring Zimbabwe for the first time in a decade having last toured the country in 2004 for a one-day series, which the Aussies won 3-0.
Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Peter Chingoka recently said the tri-series tournament would bring “financial relief” to the struggling board, which until recently was unable to play players.
