Working Committee to decide on Tests vs SA

Mumbai: The BCCI Working Committee will meet on December 18 to explore the possibility of squeezing in some Test matches when South Africa visit the country in February-March next year for a best-of-five ODI series.

"At present the tour consists of five ODIs only. There's a move to include Tests too and it would be decided at the Working Committee meeting of the Board in Mumbai on December 18," BCCI sources said.

India playing two Tests in 11 months is ridiculous: Boycott

The belated move to play a few Tests against South Africa in the short window available between India's visit to Bangladesh in early January and the start of the Indian Premier League on March 12 next year would enable the team to maintain its number one Test status acquired for the first time by its 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and champion batsman Sachin Tendulkar, among others, have expressed their wish that India should play more Tests than what has been scheduled for now.

As per the current ICC Future Tours Programme for Dhoni and his men, India will not be playing any Test cricket for nine months after its two-Test series in Bangladesh in January.