Proteas to send below-strength Test team to NZ as SA20 takes preference

South Africa will send an understrength team to New Zealand for two World Test Championship matches in February, following the release of the fixtures for its domestic SA20 franchise competition on Tuesday.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Pholetsi Moseki confirmed to AFP on Tuesday that no players contracted to the six SA20 franchises would travel to New Zealand.

Playoff structure, revised mid-week timings amongst new features in bumper 34-match schedule released. Get the full #Betway #SA20 fixtures news here: https://t.co/OpUJBDf8fJ pic.twitter.com/SoffpxZsHK

The SA20 will start on 10 January and finish on 10 February, overlapping with the Tests which begin on 4 February and 13 February.

The clash of fixtures effectively eliminates most of South Africa's first-choice players with the exception of former captain Dean Elgar, who was not contracted for the first edition of the T20 competition earlier this year.

Several leading players have been pre-contracted and an auction on 27 September is expected to mop up most of the rest, including likely second-choice or even third-choice players.

"It is a directive of Cricket South Africa," said Moseki, adding that the ruling would also apply to players whose involvement ended at the conclusion of the league phase of the SA20, which ends on 4 February.

"Because of the time zones, players need at least a week to acclimatise in New Zealand so it will not be possible for some SA20 players to join the team for at least the second Test," he said.

Cricket South Africa tried to negotiate a postponement of the Tests, but this was rejected by New Zealand Cricket.

The decision is another blow for Test cricket in South Africa, with the majority of future series restricted to two matches,