South Africa’s home T20I series against West Indies has been cut from five games to three, due to scheduling conflicts with the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.
Updated Fixtures and Venues
Originally scheduled between January 27 and February 6, 2026, the series now concludes by January 31, when the T20 World Cup support period begins. Consequently, Newlands (Cape Town) and Buffalo Park (East London) have been removed from the schedule.
The revised fixtures are as follows:
- January 27 – Boland Park, Paarl
- January 29 – SuperSport Park, Centurion
- January 31 – Wanderers, Johannesburg (Pink Day)
The final T20I will celebrate Pink Day, an annual event where the South African men’s team wears pink to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer treatment.
Western Province Reacts
Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) expressed disappointment over losing Newlands as a venue but acknowledged the necessity of accommodating the ICC’s updated tournament calendar.
“Newlands has a proud tradition of hosting world-class international cricket, and we remain committed to providing a premier venue experience. WPCA will continue to engage proactively with CSA to ensure future opportunities for international content in Cape Town,” the statement read.
Under-19 Preparations
South Africa have added three Under-19 one-dayers against India from January 3–7 at Willowmoore Park, Benoni. These matches serve as preparation for the Under-19 World Cup, co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia in mid-January.
Reasons for a Curtailed Home Season
The limited home summer schedule is due to multiple factors:
- South Africa is playing abroad until December 19, including tours to Pakistan (Tests, ODIs, T20Is) and India (all formats).
- Venues are being prepared for the 2027 ODI World Cup, including development of drop-in pitches.
- The SA20 league, starting on Boxing Day, will dominate the domestic cricket calendar.