Cricket South Africa’s 2025/26 schedule features no men’s home Tests; the women’s team will host Ireland and Pakistan in T20I and ODI series. Men’s team engages in a T20I series with West Indies and prepares for the T20 World Cup. Developmental tours for U19 and ‘A’ teams also planned.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the 2025/26 international home season schedule, revealing that the South Africa men’s team will not play any Test matches during this period. Instead, the focus will be on the women’s teams, who are set to host tours from Ireland and Pakistan, consisting of three T20 Internationals (T20Is) and three One Day Internationals (ODIs).
South Africa women will welcome Ireland from December 5 to December 19, 2025, followed by a series against Pakistan from February 10 to March 1, 2026. The series against Pakistan will initiate the new cycle of the International Women’s Championship (IWC), a pathway to the 2029 Women’s ODI World Cup. In the interim, the South Africa men’s team will engage in a T20I series against West Indies between January 27 and February 6, 2026, before competing in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Pholetsi Moseki, CSA CEO, stated, “We are looking forward to seeing our women take on Ireland and Pakistan. These tours not only provide our team with strong competition but also give our fans an opportunity to watch the Proteas Women compete at their favourite venues across the country.” He elaborated that the men’s season is shorter due to outbound tours scheduled from August to December, along with the national SA20 league occurring prior to the T20I series.
The development of future talent remains a priority, with South Africa U19 Men preparing for the 2026 ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup through a series of ODIs against Bangladesh from July 17-22, 2025. South Africa ‘A’ will also face New Zealand ‘A’ in various formats between August 30 and September 17, 2025, to solidify their competitive edge.
In summary, South Africa’s 2025/26 cricket schedule heavily emphasizes women’s international cricket, featuring tours against Ireland and Pakistan, while the men’s team prepares for the T20I series against the West Indies and a global tournament. The upcoming matches aim to enhance the visibility and development of women’s cricket in the country.
The 2025/26 cricket season for South Africa will notably lack men’s home Test matches, focusing primarily on the women’s team tours against Ireland and Pakistan. With a glimpse into future competitions and extensive developmental tours for junior teams, this season reflects a strategic emphasis on promoting women’s cricket and preparing the next generation of players. Both men and women will be actively engaged in international matches, underscoring the ongoing commitment to the sport’s growth.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
