Cricket South Africa will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its first Test at home against India on 3 January following an international ban for apartheid.
Nelson Mandela was the main figure behind the end of apartheid in South Africa (Reuters image for representational use)
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- South Africa were banned from world cricket for 21 years due to their apartheid policy
- SA played its first international match, after the ban was lifted, on 10 November 1991, versus India.
- India was also the first team to play the Proteas in South Africa in 1992.
Cricket South Africa on Wednesday confirmed that they will celebrate 30 years of cricketing ties with India during the second Test at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg next year and have made special arrangements for the same.
South Africa was ruled out of world cricket for 21 years from 1970 to 1991 due to apartheid when black players were discriminated against in the country.
The suspension (1991) was eventually lifted and Mohammad Azharuddin’s India became the first team to play against Clive Rice’s Proteas at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 10 November (1991).
South Africa, led by Kepler Wessels, played their first Test at home since their replay against Azhar’s side in Durban in November 1992. The match ended in a draw with Sachin Tendulkar scoring a century and Anil Kumble taking 8 wickets.
CSA aims to celebrate 30 years of the special tour of India and celebrate and recognize some of the most iconic moments and individuals from both the teams over the years.
“Part of the 30-year anniversary of the cricketing relationship between India and South Africa, the CSA includes the celebration and recognition of some of the most iconic moments and individuals in the stadium’s 30-year history,” CSA said in a statement.
India are eyeing their maiden Test series win in the first of three Test matches against South Africa at Centurion’s SuperSport Park since December 26.
The final of the series will be played at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town from January 11, followed by three ODIs in Paarl and Cape Town from January 19. Due to the threat of COVID-19 in the country and the outbreak of Omicron Edition, all matches will be played behind closed doors without fans.
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