Following their resounding Castle Test Series win over Pakistan, Kingsmead Stadium will see a summer of action when the Standard Bank Proteas take on Pakistan in a One Day International on Tuesday, 22 January and then KZN Cricket play host to the first Castle Lager Test Match against Sri Lanka from 13-17 February.
It has been a quiet time for Durban when it comes to hosting international cricket, and it will be a welcome sight for Durban’s cricket lovers to see the Proteas return to their Durban base.
With home-town heroes like Dave Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo and Imran Tahir in the one day mix for the Proteas there is a definite excitement to see them in the green and gold on home soil.
Pakistan are currently ranked fifth just behind South Africa but are the reigning ICC Champions Trophy champions and have historically provided a stern test for any team that they visit in the shortened formats of the game.
With the likes of Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Hasan Ali in their limited overs squad there is bound to be excitement.
Cricket South Africa have recently joined forces with flexible shuttle service Zeelo to help cricket fans avoid the parking search as well as drinking and driving, and will be dropped off right outside the stadium entrance.
KZN cricket lovers will be able to jump on the Zeelo shuttle at Ballito, Umhlanga and Durban North on their way to Kingsmead.
In Ballito the shuttle will leave from the Lifestyle Centre, in Umhlanga it will leave from the George and Crusaders Sports Club will be your pick up point just north of the city centre.
“We are incredibly excited to have the Standard Bank Proteas back in Durban,” CEO of KZN Cricket Heinrich Strydom said.
“In the recent past there have been some incredible games of limited overs cricket at Kingsmead and we expect much the same on Tuesday.
“With strong ticket sales to date we hope that the rest of the Durban public come through and experience what an international game of cricket is like at one of the country’s best cricket venues.”
A few weeks after the ODI, fans will have five days of enthralling test cricket when Sri Lanka arrive for a two test series.
Durban-born star Keshav Maharaj is expected to play a significant role in the Proteas red ball ambitions for the rest of the summer.
More information can be found at www.dolphinscricket.co.za.
