India cancel their practice match ahead of South Africa series
The two-day warm-up match between India and South Africa Board President’s XI has been cancelled, Cricket South Africa announced today. While no official reason has been given for the cancellation, it has been mentioned that India will conduct training sessions on those days in the African nation.
India’s fragility against the moving ball was open for the world to see in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Kolkata and the first ODI against the same opponent in Dharamsala yesterday. And while it was believed that the two-day warm-up game would provide the Virat Kohli-led team with a chance to get themselves acclimatised to the difficult conditions in South Africa, the warm-up game now has been cancelled.
"Please be advised that the two-day warm-up match for India at Eurolux Boland Park will no longer be taking place. India have opted for training sessions on those days," the release from CSA said.
So, this would effectively mean that India will not get any game time ahead of the three-match Test series, to start on January 5, 2018, in Cape Town.
The hosts have also announced a changed itinerary for the day-night games, apart from the T20Is, with all games kicking off half an hour earlier. According to the updated schedule, five of the six ODIs against India have been given half an hour earlier start, with the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth ODIs starting at 13:00 local time, instead of the initial timing of 13:30 local time.