India to play 2 Tests, 3 ODIs in South Africa

Ending months of speculation, the Indian cricket board Tuesday confirmed that India will tour South Africa at the end of the year to play two Tests and three One-Day Internationals (ODI).

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) came to the decision after the recent International Cricket Council (ICC) board meetings in London over the past couple of days.

“CSA and the BCCI have today announced that the South Africa cricket team will play against India in an upcoming home series comprising of two Test matches and three One Day Internationals, the specific dates and details of which will be announced in due course,” said a joint statement by the two boards.

“In addition, both parties have also agreed to continue with good faith discussions between their respective presidents about the possibility of agreeing further bilateral arrangements in respect of the scheduled fixtures between the two teams, and taking into account any scheduling imbalances from previous years.”

The agreement was reached after CSA decided to withdraw its chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat from not just its dealings with BCCI but also the ICC chief executives committee pending an inquiry into his actions.

CSA also refuted statements made by former ICC legal head and former CSA legal advisor David Becker, accusing BCCI president N. Srinivasan of being manipulative.

“The ICC and CSA have already refuted the comments made by Mr. Becker and the ICC is now considering its legal options in respect of the same. In addition, the ICC will convene an investigation by an independent third party (to be appointed by the ICC) into the content and distribution of the media comments, subsequent attempts to have them withdrawn, and, in particular, the role of Mr. Lorgat in relation to these matters.

“Pending the outcome of this investigation, CSA has ordered the withdrawal of Mr. Lorgat from representing it at the ICC’s chief executive’s committee (or from acting in any other ICC-related matters), and CSA has also withdrawn him from having involvement in any aspect of CSA’s relationship with the BCCI, including but not limited to the upcoming tour,” added the statement.