In the current cricket landscape, the hierarchy structure at the ICC has seen India, England and Australia continue to wield the power in securing the majority of high-profile fixtures and Test series, while those outside of the ‘big three’ – like the Proteas – have no such luck.
The focus of the cricket powers that be have increasingly centred on the commercially appealing T20 format, and the Proteas have certainly been one of the nations that have felt the pinch when it comes to plum Test cricket fixtures.
On Thursday, Cricket South Africa announced the confirmed schedules for the 2025/26 season, and it is very much a white-ball heavy calendar for both the men’s and women’s national teams.
Upon closer inspection, it’s glaring that the Proteas men’s team will only play five Tests in the remainder of this year. The South African red ball side will first play in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June this year, but even that fixture only came about by way of qualification.
From there, the Proteas only have four scheduled away Tests: against Pakistan (two Tests in October) and India (two Tests in November), with no Tests in South Africa over the festive season.
Instead, the fourth season of the SA20 has been moved forward in the calendar, and will start on Boxing Day.
The Proteas then play a five-match T20 series against West Indies in the build up to the 2026 T20 World Cup, and their next scheduled home Test is only in October 2026 against Australia.
CSA Chief Executive Officer Pholetsi Moseki commented: “Our international window for men’s cricket is unusually shorter next season due to outbound bilateral tours to Australia, England, Pakistan, and India between August and December.
“The Betway SA20 will also take place before the T20 International series against West Indies, with both providing valuable game time ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.”
2025/26 HOME FIXTURES WITH NO TESTS OF SIGNIFICANCE IN SIGHT FOR THE PROTEAS
2025/26 International Home Fixtures
South Africa ‘A’ Inbound Tour against New Zealand ‘A’
One-Day Matches
Saturday, 30 August at 10:00
South Africa A vs New Zealand A – Tuks Oval, Pretoria
Monday, 01 September at 10:00
South Africa A vs New Zealand A – Tuks Oval, Pretoria
Wednesday, 03 September at 10:00
South Africa A vs New Zealand A – Tuks Oval, Pretoria
Four-Day Matches
07 – 10 September at 10:00
South Africa A vs New Zealand A – JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
14 – 17 September at 10:00
South Africa A vs New Zealand A – Tuks Oval, Pretoria
SA U19 Men’s Youth ODI Series against Bangladesh U19
Warm-up Match – Monday, 14 July at 09:30
CSA U19 Invitation XI vs Bangladesh U19 – Groenkloof Oval, Pretoria
1st YODI – Thursday, 17 July at 09:30
South Africa U19 vs Bangladesh U19 – Willowmoore Park, Benoni
2nd YODI – Saturday, 19 July at 09:30
South Africa vs Bangladesh U19 – Willowmoore Park, Benoni
3rd YODI – Tuesday, 22 July at 09:30
South Africa vs Bangladesh U19 – Willowmoore Park, Benoni
Proteas Men’s T20I Series against West Indies
1st T20I – Tuesday, 27 January at 18:00
South Africa vs West Indies – Boland Park, Paarl
2nd T20I – Thursday, 29 January at 18:00
South Africa vs West Indies – World Sports Betting Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
3rd T20I – Sunday, 01 February at 14:30
South Africa vs West Indies – Buffalo Park Cricket stadium, East London
4th T20I – Wednesday, 04 February at 18:00
South Africa vs West Indies – SuperSport Park, Centurion
5th T20I – Friday, 06 February at 18:00
South Africa vs West Indies – DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Proteas Women Inbound Tour against Ireland
T20I Series
1st T20I – Friday, 05 December at 18:00
South Africa vs Ireland – World Sports Betting Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
2nd T20I – Sunday, 07 December at 14:00
South Africa vs Ireland – Boland Park, Paarl
3rd T20I – Wednesday, 10 December at 18:00
South Africa vs Ireland – Willowmoore Park, Benoni
ODI Series
1st ODI – Saturday, 13 December at 10:00
South Africa vs Ireland – Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium, East London
2nd ODI – Tuesday, 16 December at 10:00
South Africa vs Ireland – Dafabet St George’s Park, Gqeberha
3rd ODI – Friday, 19 December at 14:00
South Africa vs Ireland – DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Proteas Women Inbound Tour against Pakistan
T20I Series
1st T20I Tuesday, 10 February at 18:00
South Africa vs Pakistan – JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
2nd T20I – Friday, 13 February at 18:00
South Africa vs Pakistan – Willowmoore Park, Benoni
3rd T20I – Monday, 16 February at 18:00
South Africa vs Pakistan – Kimberley Oval, Kimberley
ODI Series
Warm-up Match – Thursday, 19 February at 10:00
SA Emerging vs Pakistan – Kimberley Oval, Kimberley
1st ODI – Sunday, 22 February at 10:00
South Africa vs Pakistan – Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
2nd ODI – Wednesday, 25 February at 14:00
South Africa vs Pakistan – SuperSport Park, Centurion
3rd ODI – Sunday, 01 March at 10:00 – Black Day
South Africa vs Pakistan – Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS?
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