Board may dither but Virat eyes SA

NEW DELHI: The BCCI may be flexing its muscles by delaying any announcement regarding the South Africa tour later this year but the players are pitching for a series that is considered one of the toughest. Virat Kohli for one is very clear that India must go on that tour, saying it is needed for the India team to test itself against the best. “The South Africa tour is something we are looking forward to. It will set the standard. We have got a young team. We are hoping to get a few games there,” Kohli said at a promotional event here on Tuesday.

The relationship between BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA) soured after the latter appointed Haroon Lorgat, the former ICC chief executive, as its CEO.

BCCI had rejected CSA’S plan of three Tests, seven ODIS and two T20IS and is instead hosting WI in Nov, when they should have been warming up in South Africa. Kohli said the team is looking forward to a good start in the ODI series against Australia, which starts with a one-off T20 on Oct 10, followed by the seven-match ODI series. “I had a break. Wish the break was longer, but all of us are fresh. We have a long season ahead and it is important to get a good start to the season in the