South Africa will play three One-Day Internationals against New Zealand in October as part of their build-up to the ICC World Cup 2015 to be hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand.

In 2012 the Proteas won the ODI series in New Zealand 3-0. This time the performance of the visitors is even more important, because the tour forms a crucial part of their World Cup preparation.

‘We are focusing on our ODI team before the CWC and have scheduled 24 matches over the next nine months,’ commented Cricket South Africa (CSA) Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat. ‘It will be a wonderful opportunity for our players, particularly the newcomers, to experience conditions in New Zealand which can be quite different from what the team is likely to encounter in Australia.

‘After the three-match series in New Zealand the team will travel directly to Australia for a five-match ODI series.

‘The team will also play ODI series against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the West Indies before the World Cup.’

The itinerary is:

1st ODI Tuesday 21 October, Bay Oval, Tauranga – Day

2nd ODI Friday 24 October, Bay Oval, Tauranga – Day

3rd ODI Monday 27 October, Seddon Park, Hamilton – D/N

The Proteas ODI squad recently picked to tour Sri Lanka is as follows: AB de Villiers (Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock (Highveld Lions), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Beuran Hendricks (Cape Cobras), Imran Tahir (Dolphins), Jacques Kallis (Cape Cobras), Ryan McLaren (Dolphins), David Miller (Dolphins), Morne Morkel (Titans), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Aaron Phangiso (Highveld Lions), Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras), , Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras).