The traditional New Year Test, against India, has apparently been pencilled in for 5 or 6 January.

CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat said, ‘We’re pretty close to an agreement with India. We will have a Boxing Day Test match, but we’re not in a position to make an announcement yet.’

Reports suggest, however, that the traditional Newlands New Year’s Test, which usually started on 2 January, will be pushed back until 5 or 6 January.

The BCCI is concerned about India playing back-to-back matches, with their series against Sri Lanka ending on 24 December, and wants at least one warm-up game in South Africa.

Lorgat expressed sympathy with the BCCI, when asked about the topic at the Stellenbosch Kings press conference last Wednesday.

‘It’s a very difficult one. I’ve got some sympathy for the BCCI itself in trying to work out which dates. Of course, we are trying to have the Test as early as New Year start as possible,’ Lorgat said.

‘They are looking at travel arrangements, dates, when they finish the last fixture. I wouldn’t put our team on a flight the very next day after they complete a game. You need a day or two at home. So these are the logistics we are grappling with.’

According to ESPNcricinfo, the BCCI was not happy with CSA’s decision of finalising the Australia series, which begins on 1 March, before the India dates were announced.

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