South Africa will now play three home T20 matches instead of five against the West Indies

South Africa will now play three home T20 matches instead of five against the West Indies

South Africa's home T20I series against West Indies has been reduced to three T20Is from five due to a clash with the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

South Africa’s men’s cricket team will have a shorter home season this summer, with their only international series a T20I contest against West Indies reduced from five matches to three. This change was made because the T20 World Cup support period begins on January 31, forcing the series to wrap up earlier than planned. Originally scheduled between January 27 and February 6, the matches will now be played on January 27, 29, and 31.

As a result of the shortened schedule, two venues Newlands in Cape Town and Buffalo Park in East London will no longer host games. The three confirmed matches will take place at Boland Park in Paarl, SuperSport Park in Centurion, and the Wanderers in Johannesburg. The final match at the Wanderers will also be “Pink Day,” an annual event where the South African team wears pink to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer treatment.

There will be no home ODIs this season, but South Africa has added three Under-19 one-day matches against India from January 3 to 7 in Benoni. These games will help the junior team prepare for the Under-19 World Cup, which kicks off in mid-January and will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.

South Africa’s limited home schedule is partly due to its overseas commitments. They’ll be touring Pakistan next month for Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, followed by a full tour of India that includes two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is. Another reason for fewer home games is the ongoing preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which South Africa will co-host with Zimbabwe and Namibia. Stadiums across the country are being upgraded, and drop-in pitches are being developed.

Despite the trimmed international calendar, the domestic season will be lively, with the SA20 league taking centre stage. It begins on Boxing Day and will run through the festive season, offering fans plenty of cricketing action at home.