The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to host New Zealand and South Africa cricket teams in October 2021 to prepare India for the upcoming T20 World Cup. People in the know confirmed to TOI that the itinerary for the two series is worked upon by the respective boards.
“The modalities of the series are being worked upon by and both the teams will visit India in October. The board is aware of the fact that players need to be in touch with the game before the World Cup,” a board member in the know of the events was quoted as saying by TOI.
India and South Africa are anyways slated to play a full-fledged series as compensation for the Covid-19 forced postponement of South Africa’s India tour. India return from their England tour which will also involve the World Test Championship in June. According to the ICC Future Tours Programme, the SA home series should be held in October right ahead of the T20 World Cup.
The New Zealand team is scheduled to visit India for a 5 match series (2 Tests, 3 T20s) post World Cup and they would not necessarily mind shifting the T20 leg given the much-needed exposure in subcontinental conditions. The only hurdle Asia Cup also seems to be getting out of the way with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani suggesting that they would look to hold the tournament with amicable cross-border relations in 2023.