First India A vs South Africa A Test shifted to Bengaluru from Belagaum

The first unofficial four-day Test match between India ‘A’ and South Afica ‘A’ has been shifted to Bengaluru from Belagaum due to inclement weather forecast.

“The match, which was scheduled to be played at Belgaum next week, has been shifted to Bengaluru due to expected inclement weather conditions,” KSCA Spokesperson Vinay Mruthanjaya told PTI here.

The first of the two games was scheduled to be played in Belgaum from August 4 to 7 while the second one was scheduled to be played in Bengaluru from August 10. But, with rain forecasted, the authorities have decided to move the first game to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as well.

Mruthunjaya said local grounds men could not prepare the pitch due to incessant weather in Belagaum, forcing BCCI to shift the series opener.

“The groundsmen escalated the matter to higher KSCA authorities, who took up the matter with BCCI officials,” he said.

Shreyas Iyer will lead the side in two four-day games against South Africa ‘A’, with the first unofficial Test being played from August 4 in Bengaluru. The second will start on August 10 at the same venue.

The side consists of big names including Team India ODI specialists Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel. Axar however, will only be available for the first unofficial Test and will be replaced by Shahbaz Nadeem in the second.

Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal, who impressed for India A in their tour of England, were also included in the side.

India ‘A’ squad for two four-day games against South Africa ‘A’:

Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Prithvi Shaw, R Samarth, Mayank Agarwal, A.R. Easwaran, Hanuma Vihari, Ankit Bawne, K.S. Bharat (WK), Axar Patel (1st four-day game)/S. Nadeem (2nd four-day game), Y. Chahal, Jayant Yadav, R Gurbani, Navdeep Saini, Ankit Rajpoot, Md. Siraj