WeeklySA_AdminBLACKOUT: CRICKET FANS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WATCH TOUR BETWEEN SA AND INDIA ON SABC
By Sports Reporter
Cricket South Africa may regret to announce that it is unable to strike a deal with the SABC to broadcast the 2023/24 India Tour to South Africa on free-to-air television but that won’t have any effect on the proceedings in the field of play.
The SABC informed CSA that they are unable to broadcast the India tour due to a withdrawal of potential sponsors hours after CSA’s full acceptance of their offer.
For the past few months CSA and the SABC have been involved in protracted negotiations on the free-to-air broadcast rights of the India tour, which are exclusively owned by CSA for the purpose of ensuring that cricket is accessible to the larger South African population.
Whilst behind-the-scenes negotiations are on-going, Team India has already landed in Durban geared up for their next assignment, which is a full-fledged series against South Africa, starting from Sunday, where they engage in all three formats, which starts with the T20Is.
With the T20 World Cup approaching, Team India’s management have focused on young guns as Suryakumar Yadav will once again be seen leading a young unit, with hardly any seniors available in the ranks.
Cricket South Africa on Monday named the Proteas’ squads for the all-format inbound tour with the major talking point from the squad selection is that ODI skipper Temba Bavuma will not play in the 50-over games.
As was the case in recent times, Bavuma will also not form part of the T20 series.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has also been left out for the white-ball leg of the tour.
The Proteas suffered a blow on the eve of the three-match T20 series with the news that fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out due to injury. Ngidi suffered a left lateral ankle sprain and will undergo medical rehabilitation with his provincial side, the Titans.
Whether Ngidi will be fit for the two-match Test series against India, which gets under way on Boxing Day, remains to be seen. Western Province fast bowler Beuran Hendricks has been named as his replacement.
Aiden Markram will captain the ODI side in Bavuma’s absence, while continuing his role as T20 skipper.
1st T20I – December 10, 2023 at 9:30 PM
IST in Kingsmead, Durban
2nd T20I – December 12, 2023 at 9:30 PM
IST in St George’s Park, Gqeberha
3rd T20I – December 14, 2023 at 9:30 PM
IST at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
ODIs
1st ODI – December 17, 2023 at 1:30 PM IST
at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.
