By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa have withdrawn from the one-day international series with Australia in January after host board Cricket Australia (CA) was unable to accommodate a request to reschedule.
CA said Cricket South Africa had asked to shift the series, which was scheduled for Hobart (January 12), Sydney (January 14) and Perth (January 17).
“Unfortunately, due to the congested international schedule including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, there are no alternative dates available,” CA said in a statement on Wednesday.
CA said South Africa had agreed that Australia would be awarded the competition points, pending approval from the International Cricket Council.
As a result of the Proteas’ decision to withdraw from the ODI fixtures, South Africa have conceded the series and the points which are required for qualification for next year’s World Cup.
Only the top eight teams from the 12 ICC full member nations plus the Netherlands qualify for the tournament with the remaining five teams having to play off against five Associate sides for the remaining two World Cup spots.
The Proteas currently languishing in 11th spot with 49 points.
South Africa’s test team are scheduled to tour Australia for a three-match series starting in Brisbane on December 17.
Australia pulled out of their test tour of South Africa last year citing heath risks amid the Covid-19 pandemic, a decision greeted by disappointment and frustration by Cricket South Africa.
Cricket South Africa’s CEO, Pholetsi Moseki, says they are confident that the Proteas can still qualify for next year’s 50-over Cricket World Cup in India.
In a statement, Moseki said attempts were made to play the series at a later stage but a suitable date could not be agreed upon.
He stressed, however, that CSA backed the Proteas to still gain direct entry into the World Cup.
“CSA is always keen on honouring its bilateral commitments. While CSA is committed to honouring its fixtures in respect of the Future Tours Programme there will sometimes be unforeseen circumstances that would negate this resolve. In the case of the Australia tour, CSA reached out to its counterpart months ago to reschedule the tour to mutually agreeable dates. CSA offered four options to that effect. Unfortunately, and to our disappointment, none of these were acceptable to Cricket Australia.
“CSA has agreed that [the] ICC award Australia the competition points. While we are saddened at losing the crucial points, we are confident that our in-form Proteas team will garner the requisite points through the remaining games to secure automatic qualification to the showpiece event in India next year,” Moseki said in the statement.