BCCI asks SA to play two Tests
The BCCI has requested South Africa to play a couple of Tests when they visit the country early next year.
The Proteas will be in India in February-March next year for a best-of-five ODI series.
A top BCCI source told PTI that instead of the five one dayers that the Proteas were scheduled to play in India in February-March, they now have been requested to play a series featuring three ODIs and two Test matches and Cricket South Africa is doing everything to make it happen.
"We have requested them to drop two ODIs and pencil in a couple of Test matches. India is the number one Test team in the world and naturally we would like to play more Test matches," the source said.
"(Cricket South Africa CEO) Gerald Majola has promised to do everything he can to make it happen and we are optimistic that everything would fall in place," he added.
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The belated move to play a few Tests against South Africa in the short window available between India's visit to Bangladesh in early January and the start of the Indian Premier League on March 12 next year would enable the team to maintain its number one Test status acquired for the first time by its 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka.
Majola was quoted in the media as saying that even though the tour would get prolonged by another week, he was confident of accommodating BCCI's request.
Majola said he would take up the issue with CSA members and the South Africa Cricketers' Association as well before committing anything.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and champion batsman Sachin Tendulkar, among others, have expressed their wish that India should play more Tests than what has been scheduled for now.
As per the current ICC Future Tours Programme for Dhoni and his men, India will not be playing any Test cricket for nine months after its two-Test series in Bangladesh in January.
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