The Proteas men’s team will not engage in international cricket until May, when they are scheduled to tour the Caribbean to face the West Indies.
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tours Program, there are no matches planned for the Proteas in March or April, a period typically reserved for the Indian Premier League (IPL). With several top South African players participating in the IPL, the tournament will attract considerable attention, especially in a World Cup year.
In preparation for the T20 World Cup, the Proteas are set to play a three-match Twenty20 International series against the West Indies. This series is seen as crucial preparation for the global tournament and will help address key selection decisions. Players like Ryan Rickleton and Matthew Breetzke, who shined in the SA20, may see more prominent roles, and promising young talent Kwena Maphaka could also get a chance to showcase his skills. Despite its brevity, this tour is expected to have a significant impact, following the Proteas’ semi-final appearance in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Looking ahead to another T20 World Cup, the Proteas find themselves in Group D alongside the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal for the 2024 edition, which will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA. The Proteas will kick off their campaign against Sri Lanka in New York on June 3, with subsequent matches against the Netherlands and Bangladesh also scheduled in New York. The team will then travel to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for a game against Nepal on June 14. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8s, leading into the knockout stages.
Following the World Cup, the Proteas’ schedule includes a trip to Ireland in July for three T20Is and three ODIs, a return to the West Indies in August, a two-match Test series in Bangladesh in October, and a home summer season featuring series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
