The impasse over India's proposed tour to South Africa is likely to end by October 19, according to a top BCCI source, who hinted today that it would consist of two Tests and three ODIs in December.
"By 19th (October) it will work out. We are hopeful of the series," the source told PTI.
BCCI has put forth a proposal to play two Test matches and three one-dayers in South Africa, while CSA demanded an additional Test, which looks improbable as India wants to play a warm-up game to start the tour, the source said.
"Only two Tests and three ODIs would be workable. It is not that the BCCI is not ready to accommodate but it is not possible to have more matches with the given schedule (the West Indies series at home this month and the New Zealand tour in January, 2014)," the source said.
"They asked if the BCCI could avoid the warm-up match but we have not agreed," the source said, adding that the Indian team also needs to get sufficient rest before the start of the New Zealand tour.
India are to play two Tests and five ODIs in New Zealand with the first ODI scheduled on January 19, according to New Zealand Cricket.
The deadlock over the South Africa tour continued after last Saturday's meeting here between the BCCI President N Srinivasan and his CSA counterpart Chris Nenzani.
"The meeting went off very well. We are awaiting some confirmation from CSA," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel had said after the inconclusive meeting. The tour has been embroiled in a controversy after CSA released the schedule without consulting the BCCI.
According to the original schedule released by the CSA, the tour was to have three Tests, seven ODIs and two T20 Internationals.
India were to begin the tour with a warm-up game on November 18 and end it with a Test on January 15. The BCCI, meanwhile, squeezed in a two-Test series followed by a best-of-three ODI series against the West Indies from November 6-27 at home.
India's tour of New Zealand is scheduled to commence on January 19, leaving only the month of December free for the team to tour to South Africa.
