The travel-weary Indian cricketers will have an extended period of rest at the conclusion of the short ODI series in the West Indies, till the commencement of the ICC Champions Trophy in September, following the Board of Control for Cricket in India's decision to drop plans for the team's visit to Zimbabwe in between.
"The visit to Zimbabwe was planned but has been dropped now as it was to involve three teams. They will have to find the third team for the series to be held," BCCI secretary N Srinvasan said in Mumbai on Wednesday.
South Africa was named as the third team for the triangular series by the BCCI secretary earlier in a media communication but Cricket South Africa said they had never planned to take part in the proposed event.
Srinivasan announced that after the conclusion of the ongoing IPL in South Africa, the Indian team will take part in the Twenty20 World Championships in England from June 5-21.
"We will have an ODI series afterwards in the West Indies, comprising four or five matches, and then will take part in the ICC Champions Trophy (scheduled in September in South Africa)," the Board secretary said.
Detailing the programme after the Champions Trophy, Srinivasan said then there will be the Champions T20 League in India, which will be followed by the Australians' visit to the country for seven ODIs.
He said Sri Lanka was slated to visit India for a full series of Tests and ODIs after the series against Australia before the Indian team visits Bangladesh in January.
"On our return we will host South Africa," Srinivasan added.
