Proteas will be busy with jam-packed fixtures
CRICKET South Africa revealed a jam-packed programme of home international fixtures on Monday, that will see Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Sri Lanka face the Proteas in the 2018/19 season.
In an attempt to expand the Protea family, CSA have decided to participate in a Zimbabwe tour that will give fans around the country an opportunity to see the Proteas at smaller stadiums.
The international season begins in September, with a three-match series against Zimbabwe in both Test match and One Day International formats of the game.
The views of Cricket South Africa were echoed by CSA acting chief executive Thabang Moroe: “It is going to be a very busy period and a very big one for our Standard Bank Proteas, who will be using the programme of 13 ODIs against three different opponents, in addition to the away tours, to fine-tune their preparations for the 2019 ICC World Cup to be played in England and Wales, commencing on May 30 next year.”
The festive season will see Pakistan as our visitors with the first Sunfoil Test match being held at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Next on the agenda will be the traditional New Year Test at the PPC Newlands Cricket Stadium in Cape Town, followed by the final Test match in the middle of January at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in Sandton.
The remainder of the fixtures entail five Momentum ODIs and three KFC T20 International matches.
Sri Lanka will embark on their tour in mid-February with Sunfoil Test matches at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban and St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.
The list of international fixtures draws to an end after the five ODIs and three T20s against the Lions.
“Our fans now also have the opportunity to make their holiday plans in good time so that they can watch the Proteas in action in their favourite formats,” explained Moroe.
In addition, excitement has been expressed by the Protea fan base as international top order batsman Hashim Mahomed Amla will be honoured by President Cyril Ramaphosa in receiving the Order of Ikhamanga (silver).
The order is awarded to a South African who has made a significant contribution in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.
Amla will receive his award this Freedom Day weekend, at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria. Other recipients for National Orders include documentary photographer and historian Omar Badsha, who will receive the Order of Ikhamanga (silver) for his commitment to the preservation of SA’s history; struggle veteran Swaminathan Gounden,who will get the Order of Luthuli (silver) for his dedication in the fight for liberation; and political activist Professor Farid Esack, who gets the Order of Luthuli (bronze) for his contribution to academic research and the fight against race, class, gender and religious oppression.