South Africa-Sri Lanka Tests Postponed Until 2015

South Africa-Sri Lanka Tests Postponed Until 2015

South Africa came on top when Sri Lanka toured in 2011/12 but the two sides won't play Test cricket until 2015 after their next series was postponed

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Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have agreed to postpone a Test series scheduled for 2013 until June and July 2015.

South Africa will still tour Sri Lanka next year to play five One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals after SLC requested that the tour be split.

The new arrangement gives South Africa a three-week break between the Champions Trophy 2013 and the Test series.

"We have acceded to the request for two reasons," CSA Acting CEO Jacques Faul explained. "In the first place we have a very good relationship with Sri Lanka Cricket and we have done our best to assist them. In the second place it actually works out quite well for the Proteas in handling their workload effectively.

"Had we proceeded with the Test series in Sri Lanka next year it would have meant that the Proteas would have played 11 Test matches between July, 2013, and March, 2014. In addition they would have had no break between the start of the ICC Champions Trophy on May 27, 2013, and the end of the ICC World T20 in Bangladesh in April, 2014. The re-scheduling of the Test series means that the Proteas will now have a three-week break between the Champions Trophy and the limited overs series in Sri Lanka.

"The matter has been discussed with the Proteas team management as well and it has been agreed that this is the best way forward both for CSA and Sri Lanka Cricket. The Proteas will now undertake their Test tour of Sri Lanka in June, 2015, before they move on to Bangladesh in July as part of the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP).
 
"I would like to stress that there was never ever any question of the Test series against Sri Lanka not happening. The status of Test cricket is paramount as far as we are concerned. We retain the same number of Tests as far as the (FTP) is concerned until 2019/2020," he added.

© Cricket World 2012