Press Releases
Mon 5 Mar 2012, 5:09 pm
Summary
Second annual fixture to celebrate bilateral ties
Johannesburg, March 5: The Proteas will play a one-off T20 International against India for the New Age Cup at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Friday, March 30 (6pm start). “This will be a wonderful way to welcome our Proteas home from New Zealand after what has been an extremely successful tour so far,” commented Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Gerald Majola. “I believe their form in the two limited overs formats against New Zealand has grabbed the imagination of cricket fans, notably the brilliant debuts of Richard Levi and Marchant de Lange. “This match is a follow-up to last year’s successful T20 match at Moses Mabhida Stadium and in discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) we have agreed to make this an annual fixture. “The BCCI have given us an assurance that they will be sending their strongest available team and I would like to thank both them and our sponsors, The New Age, for making this exciting prospect a reality. “It will bring down the curtain on our home international season on an appropriate note before many of the players depart for India for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).” In view of the addition of the New Age Cup match to the schedule the final of the MiWay T20 Challenge will now be played on Sunday, April 1, as a day match starting at 2.30pm. If a reserve day is necessary it will take place on Tuesday, April 3, as an evening match (6pm start). Significance of Match The match is held to celebrate the bilateral ties between South Africa and India. The inaugural event was held last year at the iconic Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban, and attracted the largest cricket audience on the African continent. On that occasion President Jacob Zuma called for the match to become an annual event.



