After releasing the fixtures of domestic SA20 franchise competition fixtures on Tuesday, Cricket South Africa (CSA), revealed their schedule for the forthcoming Test series against New Zealand. This scheduling conflict means that South Africa will field a second string team for the two Test matches set to take place in February.
Pholetsi Moseki, CEO of Cricket South Africa, verified to AFP that players contracted to any of the six SA20 franchises won't be boarding the flight to New Zealand. Given the SA20's timeline from January 10 to February 10, there's a clear clash with the Test matches scheduled from February 4 to February 13.
The underlying reason for this decision stems from the fixture dates of the SA20 2024, South Africa's premier T20 franchise contest. Even though CSA reached out to New Zealand Cricket with a plea to adjust the Test series dates, their request was turned down. Consequently, the SA20 contracted players are projected to miss the Test series against the Kiwis. Expounding on this, Pholetsi Moseki highlighted the logistical challenges, emphasizing that players require at least a week to adapt to New Zealand's time zones. This makes it logistically unfeasible for SA20 players to participate, especially in the second Test.
This isn't a standalone instance of scheduling hiccups for CSA. They faced a similar dilemma during the maiden SA20 edition, choosing to opt-out of a three-match ODI series against Australia to prioritize the SA20. That strategic decision led to South Africa forfeiting vital points in the ODI World Cup Super League.
However, despite these obstacles and the anticipated absence of their star players, the Proteas are optimistic about their prospects in New Zealand. They aim to pocket vital World Test Championship (WTC) points during the 2023-25 cycle. Recalling their last face-off in the Test format, South Africa and New Zealand concluded the series with a 1-1 stalemate. The cricketing community will be keenly observing how South Africa's recalibrated team fares against the formidable Kiwi lineup.
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