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Mark Boucher on South Africa's plans for the ODI series against India

image-l8db4t98Mark Boucher [Image Credits- Twitter]

South Africa head coach Mark Boucher has said that the selections by the think-tank with regards to picking the starting XI for the upcoming white-ball series in India will be done keeping in mind the T20I World Cup.

South Africa are slated to tour India for 3 T20Is and as many one-day internationals later this month.

While the focus of all teams is on ramping up their preparations for the World Cup, South Africa face a tricky situation.

Should they rest players for the ODIs and further risk their chances of an automatic entry in the 2023 World Cup or rest their main players ahead of the T20I showpiece event in Australia?

Here's what Mark Boucher said:

"I think the one-day series that we are going to play, we want results, and we want to win. But everything with regards to the Indian tour will be bearing in mind that we have got a [T20] World Cup ahead of us," as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

"So if it is resting players or giving opportunities to players… I see the squad that is going with us - maybe 19, 20 players - I don't see it like a T20 squad or a one-day squad. I look at opportunities throughout 20 individuals that we just need to manage and get them in the best space for the [T20] World Cup." 

South Africa face race against time for automatic entry in the 2023 World Cup

South Africa are currently languishing at the 11th spot in the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup Super League.

Their condition is further jeopardised by the fact that Cricket South Africa recently squandered 30 Super-League points by pulling out of the three-match series against Australia as it clashed with the inaugural SA20.

The T20I series against India will culminate in Indore on 4th October while the ODI rubber will get underway two days later in Lucknow.

The 2nd and 3rd ODI will take place in Ranchi and Delhi on October 09 and 11.

For the uninitiated, this 50-over series was supposed to take place in March 2020, but it was eventually postponed due to the global pandemic.

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