South Africa have withdrawn from a three-match ODI series against Australia which was set to take place next January because of a scheduling conflict with their new domestic T20 league.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) did ask Cricket Australia (CA) to reschedule the matches, but CA refused. The games are part of the ICC's ODI Super League, with the top eight teams qualifying automatically for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
As a result of South Africa's withdrawal, the games are expected to go down as forfeits with Australia awarded a 3-0 victory and the Super League points. It will come as a major blow to South Africa, who are already languishing in 11th place and face competing in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier to try and earn one of two remaining places at the tournament.
However, CSA have decided that their new T20 league is more important, with the organisation's CEO Pholetsi Moseki insisting the "long-term sustainability" of the competition is reliant on South Africa's top stars being able to play in it.
Moseki also said they are "confident" the team will be able to pick up enough points to qualify automatically for the World Cup. "CSA is always keen on honouring its bilateral commitments," he said.
"While CSA is committed to honouring its fixtures in respect of the Future Tours Programme there will sometimes be unforeseen circumstances that would negate this resolve. In the case of the Australia tour, CSA reached out to its counterpart months ago to reschedule the tour to mutually agreeable dates.
"CSA offered four options to that effect. Unfortunately, and to our disappointment, none of these were acceptable to Cricket Australia. CSA has agreed that ICC award Australia the competition points.
"While we are saddened at losing the crucial points, we are confident that our in-form Proteas team will garner the requisite points through the remaining games to secure automatic qualification to the showpiece event in India next year.
"As difficult as this decision has been for CSA, the long-term sustainability of our new T20 League is reliant on having all our domestic players available for this exciting new addition to the CSA calendar."
