Fifth South Africa-Australia ODI to go ahead as scheduled

Nabeal Dien, the CEO of Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA), has written to Cricket South Africa (CSA), asking the board not to schedule any fixtures on important religious holidays. This request came after Newlands was allotted the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) between South Africa and Australia on October 12, which is the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

"As Western Province, we are very respectful of every religious community in South Africa. We are aware that Yom Kippur is the most important day on the Hebrew calendar and clashes with the fifth One Day International," Dien said in a statement on Thursday (September 29). "We have written to CSA and have raised our concerns about hosting the match on the most important day on the Jewish calendar.

"Unfortunately, as an affiliate, the international itinerary is out of our control, but we have expressed our feelings to the national body. CSA will communicate our concerns about the date to the ICC, requesting that a possible oversight like that should not be repeated."

The final ODI will go ahead as scheduled in Capetown. Australia will start the series in Centurion before heading to Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth for other matches.