South Africa will aim to improve their bench strength by giving better performers
at the domestic level a look-in at the international stage as the Proteas embark
on a hectic international cricket season.
"On the international front, we will be using this season with its seven
tours to increase the pool of Proteas players so that we can meet the challenges
of this busy 2007-08 season," Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola said.
"This means that the domestic programme will give emerging
players a good opportunity to catch the attention of the national selectors,
and this will give added incentives to do well in our home competitions",
Majola said in a statement.
South Africa starts its season with a tour to Ireland
where they will face the hosts in a on-off ODI before taking on India
in a three-match series.
"The new season, which has kicked off with the tour to
Ireland this month, will include seven international tours and the hosting of
the inaugural World Twenty20 South Africa in 2007," he said.
"We are not taking our first international tour to Ireland
lightly, and the Proteas squad, with several new players in it, is determined
to do well." It is one of the five overseas tours that South Africa would
be undertaking during the 2007-08 season.
The coming season will test the skills and adaptability of
the South African players, Majola said.
"The international tours will be a good mix of home and
away conditions. There will be away tours to Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Bangladesh
and India. At home, we will be hosting New Zealand and West Indies as well as
the ICC World Twenty20 South Africa 2007," he said.
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