Cricket South Africa confirmed on Thursday the dates for South Africa’s three-match series against India in Belfast and a one-off match against Ireland in June and July.
Ireland, surprise package of the Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, is to host the three match one-day international (ODI) series between South Africa and India, and will also play a ODI against both Test-playing teams.
The series will start on June 26 with subsequent matches on June 29 and July 1. Ireland will play India on June 23 and South Africa the following day in their first ODIs since the World Cup.
For Ireland, the tournament is seen as just reward for their performance in the recent World Cup.
”The Irish Cricket Union is proud that two such great cricketing nations as India and South Africa are coming to Ireland to play each other and against Ireland,” said ICU chief executive Warren Deutrom.
”Following last year’s hugely successful match at Stormont between Ireland and England, the ICU is delighted that top-class cricket continues to come to Ireland, in the first ever matches between full Test nations here.
”These matches will not only continue to put Irish cricket on the map after the success of the Ireland team at the World Cup, but should provide a real financial impetus to our objectives for the future of the game.”
In original discussions it had been suggested that Australia would be India’s opposition but those plans fell through. The series will be South Africa’s first commitments since the World Cup although some of the players are due to appear in the Afro-Asia cup in early June.
For India, the three ODIs will act as preparation for their tour of England, which starts in July. – Sapa