Finally, the air has been cleared off the India vs South Africa freedom series starting January 2018. Good news comes for the South African cricket board, Cricket South Africa (CSA) as the Indian cricket team will be touring to take on the Proteas for a full-fledged 4-match series. Moreover, Virat Kohli & Co. will also play a series of 5 ODIs and 3 T20s.
According to a Times of Indian report, the speculations of the cancellation freedom series has been ended after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office bearer announced India’s participation. The reports also quoted a BCCI office bearer as saying,”The tour to South Africa is very much on. It will be a full-fledged series, involving four Tests, five ODIs and 3 T20Is.” Further, it has also been stated that post this year’s Christmas, the Indian team would leave for South Africa on Dember 28. The first Test match is scheduled to commence on the 3rd of January.
Earlier, the CEO of CSA, Haroon Lorgat wished to organise the series with Indian cricket team on the boxing day. However, the Proteas has a busy schedule in the upcoming summer as they are going to host Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the home season. Last time, India-South Africa Freedom Series was held in India in October 2015 where Indian lost the T20 and ODI series to AB de Villiers & Co. under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. However, the Indians smashed the guests in the Test Series.
As per the TOI reports, as said by BCCI officials, the Indian team would fly down to South Africa in order to participate in the Independence Cup which will feature South Africa and Pakistan in a quadrangular series. this series was announced by Sri Lanka Cricket officials earlier this year.
