CSA have announced that South Africa A will face Afghanistan A in a triangular series also featuring India A, before two four-day matches against India A.

The news comes after Australia A decided against making the trip to South Africa amid an ongoing pay dispute with Cricket Australia.

CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat expressed delight at Afghanistan’s decision to accept the invitation to replace Australia for the upcoming series.

‘We are delighted that Afghanistan have accepted our invitation and look forward to welcoming them to our country for the very first time. Afghanistan were deservedly granted full member status at the ICC annual conference last month after showing impressive growth in recent years,’ Lorgat said.

‘They are a passionate cricket nation and I expect the Afghanistan A team to compete strongly against our A team and India A in the upcoming tri-series.’

ALSO READ: Australia A opt out of SA tour

Afghanistan CEO Shafiqullah Stanikzai said the opportunity to play South Africa and India will provide the team with invaluable exposure.

‘We are very pleased to accept Cricket South Africa’s invitation to participate in the upcoming triangular series. This will be our first-ever visit to South Africa and I am certain that this will give Afghanistan ’A’ team very good exposure to competitive cricket,’ remarked Stanikzai.

The triangular series begins on 26 July when Afghanistan face India, while the first four-day match between South Africa A and Afghanistan is slated for 12 August.