The T20 international match scheduled for the Buffalo Park cricket ground in East London in February 2026 between the Proteas and West Indies has been axed from Cricket SA’s calendar of fixtures.
The cricket mother body said on Tuesday the decision followed the International Cricket Council’s confirmation of the start date for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The global showpiece in India and Sri Lanka with its warm-up games is scheduled to begin on January 31, which clashed with the initial dates set for the Proteas and Windies series.
That five-match T20I series was set from January 27 to February 6. It has also been reduced to three games.
“The T20I series ... has been revised to three matches to accommodate the adjusted international calendar,” CSA said.
The national men’s team last played at Buffalo Park in 2023.
In that game, Temba Bavuma scored a century against the Caribbean team and the stadium was filled to capacity, revealing how much East London has been starved of men’s team matches.
Border Cricket administrator Greg Fredericks on Tuesday said they were gutted by the removal of Buffalo Park from the serious.
“Yes, we are disappointed. We were planning to host the team, but we understand.
“Cricket SA uses Pretoria, Joburg and Cape Town as a way to generate revenue as they are the big cities. We were surprised that Cape Town was also removed.
“They did promise us that they would try to sneak us in the current calendar, if not then in the next one they will make it up and bring games to Buffalo Park,” he said.
Boland Park will host the opening match of the 2026 series in Paarl on January 27, before the teams move to the highveld for the second encounter at SuperSport Park in Centurion on January 29.
Pink Day, traditionally staged as a one-day international, will take place during the third T20I at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on January 31.
The disappointing news comes just a week after the World Test Championship Mace Trophy tour by the Proteas was cancelled due to the strike by Buffalo City Metro employees.
The only remaining international game to be played in East London in the current calendar involves the Proteas Women in an ODI game against Ireland at Buffalo Park later in 2025.
That game on December 13 will be the first of three matches in the series. It will be the first time the Irish women’s team visit Buffalo City.
Daily Dispatch
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