In a usual sequence of Test matches, lunch breaks are taken before Tea. But that won’t be the case for the second Test of the upcoming series against South Africa to be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati from November 22. Due to the early sunrise and sunset in the eastern part of the country, the timings of the red-ball clash have been tweaked for the smooth conduct of the game.

The first session of the five-day encounter between India and South Africa will be from 9 am to 11 am, followed by the Tea session from 11 am to 11:30 am. The second session will take place till 1:20 pm, after which the lunch break will be from 1:20 pm to 2 pm. The third and final session of the clash will be played till 4 pm, apart from the extra 30 minutes to complete the 90 overs of the scheduled day.

See Also: [WATCH] KL Rahul recalls Rahul Dravid's reaction after his century celebration in Asia Cup 2023

"The reason to have early Tea is that Guwahati witnesses early sunset, and there is an early start too. This will be the first time we have decided to change the Tea session, as time will be saved to get extra game time on the field.” The source was revealed as quoted by the Indian Express.

IND vs SA 2nd Test in Guwahati to begin 30 minutes earlier than traditional start

In normal circumstances, the Test matches begin at 9:30 in the morning in India and have 40 minutes of lunch at the start. The start time varies from one country to another, like England, which begins its Test matches at 11 am due to having long days in its summer. Most of the team follows their traditional lunch-tea breaks during the red-ball contests.

Both Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have mutually decided to change the timing. In the past, the Indian board changed its session periods in the Ranji Trophy games to factor in the early sunset situation.

It’s expected to be the same situation with the lights during the opening Test at the Eden Gardens. However, no change in timing has been made for the opener.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) might have to shorten their only men’s home series this summer against West Indies to ensure both teams can reach the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka on time. The Proteas are scheduled to host the West Indies for five T20Is between January 27 and February 6. However, the T20 World Cup is set to begin on February 7, with the ICC’s support period, when teams arrive and play optional warm-up matches, starting January 31, earlier than the initially planned February 3.

CSA had originally planned their home fixtures assuming there would be enough time for South Africa to travel to the World Cup hosts. While it’s not mandatory for teams to use the entire support period at the venues, the ICC asks nations to specify how many warm-up matches they want, ranging from zero to two. Only if a team opts for two warm-up matches does the support period extend to one week before the tournament.

CSA is currently discussing with Cricket West Indies when the visitors want to arrive in the subcontinent and how many warm-up games they plan to play. If no warm-up matches are requested, the support period would start February 3, giving South Africa limited time to complete the series.

Impact on the SA vs WI Series

Even if West Indies feel the series in South Africa is enough preparation for the World Cup, the Proteas may have to cancel at least the last two T20Is, scheduled for February 4 and 6. Preponing the series isn’t possible since the SA20 league ends on January 25.

See Also: Top 5 key insights from Ishant Sharma’s recent podcast appearance

South Africa also have a relatively light home schedule this summer as venues are being prepared for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with drop-in pitches being developed. CSA's calendar will be busier next season, as it will draw on ten home Tests (eight men’s, two women’s), including a series against Australia and England. This careful planning shows CSA is trying to maintain its home series while preparing for a World Cup.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed that 44 of the 54 matches at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will take place at eight venues in South Africa, while the other ten matches will be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia, who are co-hosts of the event. The confirmation came during the announcement of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on Thursday, which included the selection of a former finance minister, Trevor Manuel, to chair a committee as an independent chairperson in the preparations for the global event. This will be the first ICC men's event in South Africa since the 2009 Champions Trophy and is the first time that the 50-over World Cup is played on African soil since 2003.

Shortlisted Locations in South Africa

The eight venues chosen by CSA blend traditional cricketing venues with iconic locations that have hosted historic matches:

• Johannesburg
• Pretoria
• Cape Town
• Durban
• Gqeberha
• Bloemfontein
• East London
• Paarl

A Historic Return of the World Cup to Africa

The 2027 edition marks 24 years since the last Men's ODI World Cup held in South Africa. The CSA chairperson, Pearl Maphoshe, said it was an opportunity to showcase the country's and the continent's diverse reality. 
"CSA's vision is to deliver a global, inspiring event which is a reflection of the face of South Africa - diverse, inclusive and united."

CSA president Rihan Richards said the tournament will also offer a once-in-a-million experience to expand the fans to reach new fans and deepen cricket's footprint across Africa.

"This makes the 2027 CWC a once-in-a-lifetime event to create a unique quad for expanding our global footprint, as well as engaging existing fans through digital innovation, while connecting with the African continent and the rest of the world."

ALSO SEE: Revised fixtures announced for ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025

Local Organising Committee (LOC)

The LOC for the World Cup will consist of independent and non-independent directors, ministry representatives, and CSA representatives.

Independent Chair

• Trevor Manuel

CSA Members Council and Board Appointments

• Johannes Adams - President of Western Province
• Yunus Bobat - President of KwaZulu-Natal
• Vuyani Jarana - CSA Board Member

Ministry Appointments

• Advocate Philip October
• Unathi Matthew Tshotwana

Independent Directors

• Herman Bosman
• Nomfanelo Magwentshu
• Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
• Ravi Naidoo
• Dr Stavros Nicolaou
• Advocate Karrisha Pillay SC

CSA Staff

• Pholetsi Moseki – CSA CEO
• Refentse Shinners – CSA Public Affairs Executive
• Tjaart van der Walt – CSA COO

Past ICC Events in South Africa

South Africa has a great past hosting ICC events:

• 2003 Men's ODI World Cup (co-hosted with Zimbabwe and Kenya)
• 2007 inaugural Men's T20 World Cup
• 2009 Champions Trophy
• 2005 Women's ODI World Cup
• 2023 Women's T20 World Cup (where the Proteas made it to a final for the first time.)

The 2027 World Cup will take place with 44 matches across South Africa and 10 matches across Zimbabwe and Namibia, which should provide a truly pan-African cricketing celebration that's as diverse as the continent and as colourful.

In a ground-breaking development, South African batting prodigy Heinrich Klaasen has decided to call time on his international cricketing career at age 32. Klaasen confirmed the news of his retirement on his personal Instagram handle. The iconic Protea legend will no longer appear in South African colours. 

Klaasen was thankful to have represented South Africa, describing it as a lifelong aspiration and the greatest honor of his professional career. Furthermore, he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his coaches, teammates, and supporters for their encouragement during his journey, stating that he will forever treasure the bonds and experiences formed while playing for the national team. 

See also: WTC 2025: ICC announces prize money details for prestigious Test championship

Klaasen pens an emotional note on his retirement

On his Instagram account, Klaasen expressed that it was not an easy decision for him to make. He feels sad to exit international cricket but stresses that it was in his best interest, keeping his family aspirations in mind. 

“It is a sad day for me as I announce that I have decided to step away from international cricket. It took me a long time to decide what’s best for me and my family for the future. It was truly a very difficult decision, but also one that I have absolute peace with.”

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Heinrich Klaasen (@heinie45)

Earlier today, Australia's Glenn Maxwell shocked the world by announcing his sudden ODI retirement. It does not take long for Klaasen to follow suit as well, as he becomes the latest professional cricketer to bid farewell to all formats. Klaasen leaves behind a legacy that may be matched only by a select few in modern-day cricket. 

On the back of his aggressive, flamboyant batting,  Klaasen became the 11th Protea batter to cross 2000 ODI runs and did so at the 54th-fastest pace in the format’s history. Besides, his fireworks at the IPL are something to behold. In the ongoing IPL edition, Klaasen racked up a blazing century (105 off 37) against Kolkata Knight Riders in Delhi, equalling the joint third-fastest century held by Yusuf Pathan, only behind Chris Gayle (30 balls) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (35 balls).

In a bizarre turn of events, the second unofficial Test between Bangladesh and South Africa emerging saw a very ugly incident unfold. The ongoing Test is currently being staged at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Players were involved in a heated on-field clash, which turned out to be physical in nature. The incident came to light during the 107th over of the Bangladeshi innings when Ripon Mondal of Bangladesh reportedly clashed with Innocent Ntuli of South Africa. 

Ripon's defalting six in the first ball of the over did not really sit so well with Ntuli, and that six soon turned into a flashpoint. Enraged by that six, Ntluli barged at Ripon and tried to push him aside. At first, Ripon tried to push him away multiple times, but the South African player persisted with his actions. It soon came down to a point where Ntluli got hold of Ripon's helmet and yanked it, leading to a serious escalation between the two players that also involved physical contact.

See also: BAN vs PAK 1st T20I: Bangladesh’s Probable Playing XI

Although the situation was diffused by the match officials and the surrounding fielders, serious questions have been raised concerning the attitude and the on-field conduct of the players involved. Even though this match does not possess first-class status, the authorities have ensured that disciplinary action is imminent. 

Watch the entire incident:

Tshepo Ntuli did THIS to Ripon Mondol after losing his calm 😮👇🏻#BanEvSAE pic.twitter.com/vt5SAgvfbZ

— Cricketangon (@cricketangon) May 28, 2025

Salim Shahed, the appointed match referee for this second unofficial Test, has confirmed that possible measures against the erring players will be discussed, and an official report will be submitted to investigate the incident more broadly. Shahed is currently waiting for the umpire's report to trickle through. Once that is received, both the reports from the referee and the umpires will be presented to the cricket boards of Bangladesh and South Africa.  

In a ground-breaking development, both Namibia and South Africa are gearing up to face each other for the first time in international cricket. Namibia will be hosting South Africa for a one-off T20I series in their newly-renovated Wanderers stadium in Windhoek on October 11. Despite being geographically close to each other, both nations have never met each other in any bilateral or tournament-level fixture. 

See also: IPL 2025: LSG vs RCB Match 70- Who will be Impact Players for today's match?

Historic moment for Cricket Namibia and its supporters

The one-off T20I will mark the beginning of a new chapter for cricket in southern Africa. This development is bound to redefine the cricketing ties between Cricket Namibia and Cricket South Africa. Cricket Namibia will be the obvious beneficiary as they look to draw inspiration from this association and try to bolster their cricketing standards around the country. 

The attention now shifts to Cricket Namibia's first official stadium, which has recently been renovated to comply with international standards. This newly renovated stadium (previously known as Wanderers) will play host to the upcoming historic T20I fixture between Namibia and South Africa. In addition, the ground will also stage matches from the 2026 Under-19 Men's World Cup and the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup.

It is worth noting that Namibia is a co-host of the Under-19 World Cup alongside Zimbabwe, as well as the ODI World Cup in collaboration with Zimbabwe and South Africa. The ground previously served as Namibia's high-performance centre, but the ongoing construction from 2021 has upgraded its capacity to hold 7000 spectators. 

Joy for all the stakeholders involved

Johann Muller, Cricket Namibia CEO, expresses his delight whilst announcing the launch of his new facility. Muller stresses that it had been a desire for the local Namibian population to see this dream turn into a reality. What further adds to his excitement is being able to host a world-class cricket team like South Africa in their newly revamped facility. 

"This truly is a memorable occasion. The new ground has been a dream for the last four years and has finally materialised. A match against our neighbours, and one of the top cricketing countries in the world, is the perfect way to open this world-class facility."

Quite understandably, his sentiments were echoed by his South African counterpart, Pholesti Moseki, who happens to be the CEO of Cricket South Africa. Moseki is thrilled to be a part of this historic experience. He further adds that Namibia are a seasoned side and hopes to see them perform well. 

"We are honoured to be part of this historic occasion. Namibia are a competitive side, and this fixture reflects the growing strength of cricket on the continent. As a fellow African cricketing nation and the host of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, we are proud to support the official opening of this new cricket ground, which will be one of the host venues of the tournament."

The upcoming ODI World Cup 2027 will jointly be hosted by South Africa and Namibia. The strong cooperation between the two African cricketing boards is clearly evident, and with a new facility in place, Namibia's growing influence in world cricket is only going to surge in the years to come. 

In a significant step toward preparing for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, Jay Shah, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), recently visited South Africa to inspect key venues for the tournament. The World Cup event scheduled for October and November 2027 will have South Africa and Zimbabwe as joint hosts together with Namibia in what represents South Africa's and Zimbabwe's second World Cup collaboration since 2003 and Namibia's first hosting of the tournament. The ICC demonstrates its dedication to creating premium tournament spaces for the 14-team competition because Shah toured facilities for the upcoming 2027 World Cup.

Lions Cricket South Africa extended a warm welcome to both Shah and Cricket South Africa (CSA) Vice President Dr. Mohammed Moosajee when they visited the legendary DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on April 16, 2025. The stadium tour concluded with a fantastic lunch demonstration of the venue's capability to execute major competitions. The 2003 World Cup final occurred at Wanderers Stadium, which now has a 30,000-person capacity and serves as one among eight South African stadium choices. The eight confirmed South African venues for the tournament encompass Kingsmead in Durban and Newlands in Cape Town and also include SuperSport Park in Centurion as well as St. George’s Park in Gqeberha and Boland Park in Paarl and Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein and Buffalo Park in East London.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Rohit Sharma honored with special Memento by BCCI president Roger Binny

The venues were strategically selected by CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki according to hotel availability and airport accessibility criteria. The qualification process for Namibia stands separate from automatic qualification for South Africa and Zimbabwe, which includes hosting rights. South African officials work closely with ICC President Shashank Manohar to supervise tournament preparations because they need to maintain international standards throughout the infrastructure development and event operations and fan attendance convenience.

Venue Preparations and Regional Impact

The 2027 ODI World Cup will bring out Southern Africa’s traditional cricket culture while sharing its welcoming traditions with the world. The ICC evaluates three major South African cities with their selected venues to satisfy their specifications for facilities for players, media personnel, and spectators. Wanderers Stadium is receiving upgrades to qualify as a prime location for hosting important matches, which could include the final of the tournament, because of its cultural importance combined with contemporary features.

Also Read: IPL 2025: RCB vs PBKS Match 34 - A Head to Head breakdown

The co-host partnership between South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will stimulate cricket development throughout the region beyond South African borders. Matches during the upcoming tournament will be divided between the cities of Harare and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, while Namibia receives a minor role, which signals progress of its developing cricket community. The World Cup’s planned development includes South African matches as the ICC works to build a unified tournament that advances cricket throughout these three countries, as demonstrated by Shah’s tour.

In a major twist of events, former South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock who is also part of ICC's cricket committee, has spilled beans on ICC's inner workings on the relaxation of wide rule in limited-overs cricket. He has said that the governing body is working on a plan to ease the restrictions on wide deliveries, especially when the batter moves around in his/her crease. Pollock believes that the introduction of such a change can tip the balance in the favor of the bowlers ever so slightly, in a game that is heavily dictated by the batters. 

See also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Indian squad announcement likely to be delayed

Pollock assures something is in the works for the bowlers

In his recent conversation with PTI on the sidelines of the SA20, Pollock assures everyone that he is in touch with the working committee who are working on a solution to ease restrictions on wide rules. 

"So it's in the pipeline, we're all discussing. We need to give a little bit back to the bowlers."

In a game largely dominated by the batters, Pollock feels something has to go in the favor of the bowlers to make the game more balanced and enjoyable for the viewers to watch. Pollock does not appear to be a big fan of the current wide rule and feels that it is a little unfair on the bowler's part. 

"The current rule tends to suggest that if he [the batter] moves and it's that point of delivery where the batter is, and that's according to where the wide will be called, I want a little bit of a change. I want them to know exactly when they're running up why or how - how can a bowler be expected to change his game plan at the last second when he's bowling? He needs to have a clear idea where he can go." 

Prior attempts to address the wide rule

Prior to Pollock's recommendation, attempts have been made in the IPL and the WPL to use DRS to accurately adjudicate wides. Both the bowlers and the batters were given the provision to challenge the on-field decision for a wide call. However, the former Australian umpire has a different opinion on this matter and is not in favor of reviewing wide decisions with the help of DRS. Furthermore, he also states that the call of a wide is purely a judgment call which is likely to differ or vary from one umpire to another umpire and therefore, deems the intervention of a TV umpire in this matter to be unwarranted.

Fans and cricket lovers from around the world hold their breath as Cricket South Africa (CSA) is all set to unveil the third edition of SA20 starting on January 9. Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town are slated to take on each other in the opening game of the tournament at St George's Park. Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) are currently the defending champions and will certainly be determined to defend their title at all costs once again.

The tournament will feature as many as six teams who will compete across 34 games in the space of approximately one month. The SA20 final is scheduled to take place on February 8 at the Wanderers while there will also be a provision of a Reserve Day in case the SA20 Final gets hampered due to rain. 

But just before the kick-off of the SA20 tournament, CSA will hold a Captain's Day presentation that aims to bring all the six captains together wherein they will have an interactive discussion about their team's goals and their vision as a whole ahead of the third SA20 edition. 

See also: SA20: SEC vs MICT Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Probable Playing XI For 01st Match

Join us live from #BetwaySA20 Captains' Day
🗓️Date: Wednesday 8 January 2025
🕐 Time: 9:20 SAST and 12:50 IST
📍 YouTube: https://t.co/x5qb2v5mUT pic.twitter.com/GGOoHdP4aW

— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 6, 2025

SA20 squads

Durban's Super Giants: Brandon King (West Indies), Quinton de Kock, Naveen-ul-Haq (Afghanistan), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Chris Woakes (England), Prenelan Subrayen, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj (c), Noor Ahmed (Afghanistan), Heinrich Klaasen, Jon-Jon Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, Junior Dala, Bryce Parsons, Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith, Marcus Stoinis (Australia), Shamar Joseph (West Indies), and rookie CJ King.

Joburg Super Kings: Faf du Plessis (c), Moeen Ali (England), Jonny Bairstow (England), Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka), Devon Conway (New Zealand), Gerald Coetzee, David Wiese (Namibia), Leus du Plooy (England), Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Donovan Ferreira, Imran Tahir, Sibonelo Makhanya, Tabraiz Shamsi, Doug Bracewell, Wihan Lubbe, Evan Jones, and rookie JP King.

MI Cape Town: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Ben Stokes (England), Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult (New Zealand), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Dewald Brevis, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Nuwan Thushara (Sri Lanka), Connor Esterhuizen, Delano Potgieter, Rassie van der Dussen, Thomas Kaber, Chris Benjamin (England), Corbin Bosch, Reeza Hendricks, Colin Ingram, Dane Piedt, and rookie Tristan Luus.

Pretoria Capitals: Anrich Nortje (South Africa), Jimmy Neesham (New Zealand), Will Jacks (England), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Liam Livingstone (England), Will Smeed (England), Migael Pretorius, Rilee Rossouw, Eathan Bosch, Wayne Parnell (c), Senuran Muthusamy, Kyle Verreynne, Daryn Dupavillon, Steve Stolk, Tiaan van Vuuren, Marques Ackerman, Evin Lewis (West Indies), and rookie Keagan Lion-Cachet.

Paarl Royals: David Miller (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Sam Hain (England), Joe Root (England), Dinesh Karthik (India), Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Van Buuren, Keith Dudgeon, Ngaba Peter, Andile Phehlukwayo, Codi Yusuf, John Turner (England), Dayyaan Galiem, Jacob Bethell (England), Rubin Hermann, and rookie Dewan Marais.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Aiden Markram (c), Zak Crawley (England), Roelof van der Merwe (Netherlands), Liam Dawson (England), Ottneil Baartman, Marco Jansen, Beyers Swanepoel, Caleb Seleka, Tristan Stubbs, Jordan Hermann, Patrick Kruger, Craig Overton (England), Tom Abell (England), Simon Harmer, Andile Simelane, David Bedingham, Okuhle Cele, Richard Gleeson, and rookie Daniel Smith. 

When and where to watch SA20 in India?

The SA20 tournament will run from January 9 to February 8 and the Indian viewers can catch all the live-action on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 2 HD while watching it on TV. Additionally, the tournament will also be streamed on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website. 

Full Schedule of SA20 2025

*All timings are mentioned in IST

In a shocking development, the South African Police Service which goes by the name of Hawks made headlines by arresting three former South African cricketers, Ethy Mbhalati, Thami Tsolekile, and Lonwabo Tsotsobe for their alleged role in match-fixing during the 2015/2016 domestic T20 Ram Slam Challenge.

These arrests were made after a whistleblower came forward in October 2016 to reveal the details of the heinous act of the trio. Following that development, a detailed investigation was launched by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit in a bid to assess the depth and gravity of the crime.

Details of their match-fixing charges

In a statement released on Friday, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) confirmed the arrests. Tsolekile and Tsotsobe were detained on November 28 and 29, respectively, while Mbhalati was apprehended on November 18.

Mbhalati made a brief appearance in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court with his case now being deferred to 20 February 2025. While for Tsolekile and Tsotsobe, the duo has been charged with five counts of corruption under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act. Their respective cases have also been deferred to 26 February 2025.

See also: Siddarth Kaul announces retirement from Indian cricket

Cricket South Africa’s crackdown on match-fixing scandals

The arrest of Mbhalati, Tsolekile, and Tsotsobe is not the first major scandal to be unmasked by Cricket South Africa (CSA). Prior to this corruption scandal, former Proteas cricketer Gulam Bodi was also identified and punished by the national cricketing body with a five-year jail term whereas Jean Symes and Pumi Matshikwe were given suspended sentences after pleading guilty in 2021 and 2022 respectively. 

Lieutenant General and head of the DPCI Godfrey Lebey praised the efforts of the investigation team for identifying the culprits and getting to the bottom of this match-fixing plot. “Corruption undermines the integrity of sport, and the Hawks are determined to safeguard the values of fairness and professionalism in all areas of society. We thank Cricket South Africa for their cooperation and commitment to addressing this scourge.”

This development solidifies Cricket South Africa's stance towards combating corruption in sports and highlights just how determined the cricketing body is to maintain the integrity of the game.