South Africa-West Indies T20I series shortened to three matches: Here’s why
**South Africa-West Indies T20I Series Shortened to Three Matches**
*By Parth Dhall | Sep 30, 2025, 03:47 PM*
South Africa’s upcoming home international series against the West Indies has been shortened from five to three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). This adjustment comes due to a scheduling conflict with the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
Originally, the five T20Is were scheduled to take place between January 27 and February 6, 2026. However, the series will now be concluded by January 31 to accommodate the preparation period leading up to the T20 World Cup.
**Venue Changes**
As a result of the revised schedule, two venues have been dropped from the original lineup. Cape Town’s Newlands and Buffalo Park in East London will no longer host matches in this series. Instead, the three T20Is will be played at Boland Park in Paarl, Centurion’s SuperSport Park, and the iconic Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on January 27, 29, and 31 respectively.
**Special Occasion: Pink Day T20I in Paarl**
With no One Day International (ODI) cricket scheduled in South Africa for the 2025/26 season, the final T20I of this series will be a special event. The match in Paarl on January 31 will be observed as “Pink Day,” an annual occasion where the South African team dons pink jerseys to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer treatment. This event remains a significant highlight in South Africa’s home season calendar.
**Looking Ahead: South Africa’s Packed International Schedule**
South Africa’s international cricket commitments continue to be demanding. The team is currently on an overseas tour until December 19. Starting next month, they will begin their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title defense with a series against Pakistan, which includes Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is.
Following this, South Africa will embark on an all-format tour to India featuring two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is. Additionally, South Africa is set to co-host the 2027 ODI World Cup alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia, highlighting their significant role in international cricket over the coming years.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/south-africa-to-play-three-t20is-against-west-indies/story
