Cricket South Africa ready to play ball with BCCI

Mumbai: The Test series versus South Africa is on. After mulling over BCCI's proposal for a long time, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has finally given its nod for two Tests and three one-dayers. The go-ahead came about two days back.

Yes, we have got the confirmation," a top BCCI official told DNA. "They have agreed to our request," he added. The Board will announce the schedule soon, most probably this week, after holding a meeting of its tours and fixtures committee.

It may be recalled that DNA was the first to report that the BCCI had requested CSA to arrange for two Tests and three ODIs instead of the scheduled five one-day internationals in February-March next year.

However, none of the Board officials was willing to come on record. It was also learnt that CSA has sent BCCI a few 'options' for the series. It could not be ascertained whether those are actually conditions. When contacted, BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said that he would issue a release once the fixture is finalised.

However, Gerald Majola, the chief executive officer of Cricket South Africa, said that the announcement will have to come from the BCCI while confirming that he has given the Indian board a few 'options'.

"We cannot say anything at this stage. We have given the BCCI some options and it is up to them to decide on this," he said. He refused to elaborate but it is learnt that those were about the scheduling of the series rather than any tough strings.

The BCCI is believed to have sounded out its stake-holders -- sponsors and broadcasters -- about the series. There is already a talk about likely venues. Kolkata, Nagpur and Bangalore are in the race for the Test matches while Jaipur, Goa and Visakhapatnam are in contention for the ODIs.

BCCI's request to CSA was an off-shoot of the Indian team's ascent to the No.1 position in ICC's Test rankings. The team was not scheduled to play Tests for about nine months after their two-Test away series against Bangladesh next month.

The Indian Board wanted to give Mahendra Singh Dhoni & Co all possible opportunities to retain the top spot. It is more than likely that the BCCI will dash off a similar request to Cricket Australia to play a few Tests in place of seven one-dayers when Ricky Ponting and his boys are slotted to visit India next October.