India will host South Africa women's cricket team in an all-format series including a historic Test next month. The three ODI series will begin on June 16. The one-off Test, first between the two teams in almost a decade will start on June 28. The three-T20I series will be played from July 5 to 9 and it will work as preparatory series before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh later this year.
The ODI encounters will be played in Bengaluru. Then the teams will move to Chennai where the one-off Test and three T20Is will be played. The ODIs will start at 1:30 PM whereas the T20Is will begin from 7 PM.
The white-ball series was a part of the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) in late 2023. However, the series was postponed due to the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 where India lost to Australia in the final.
The one-off Test was not originally part of the FTP. It is an attempt by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) to revive the red-ball format in women's cricket.
Last year, India had played a Test each against England and Australia. India beat England by 347 runs followed by an eight-wicket win over Australia.
Before the ODI series, South Africa will play a warm-up game against Board President's XI on June 13 in Bengaluru.
The Test clashes between India and South Africa
The last time India played South Africa in a Test was in 2014. Mithali Raj-led India beat the Proteas Women in Mysore by an innings and 34 runs. Thirush Kamini and Punam Raut scored centuries whereas Harmanpreet Kaur starred with nine wickets including a five-wicket haul in the first innings.
There has been only one other Test clash between the two sides. Anjum Chopra-led side beat South Africa by 10 wickets in Paarl in 2002. Five Indian batters scored half-centuries to help the visitors post 404/9. South Africa were bundled out for 150 and were asked to follow-on. They managed to evade an innings defeat but lost by 10 wickets.
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