Cape Town - Cricket South Africa (CSA) has declined with regret the invitation from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to play a series of One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International matches next month.

“Unfortunately there are too many practical obstacles that prevent us from accepting this commitment,” commented CSA Acting CEO Jacques Faul.

 “At the moment most of our senior Proteas are spread around the world in England and India and those who are at home are undergoing rehabilitation from injuries picked up during the past season.

“We also have to bear in mind that the Proteas’ Castle Lager squad has a hectic schedule ahead of it with very important tours to England and Australia with the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka sandwiched in between.

“We have always enjoyed our contests with Bangladesh and we look forward to playing them again in the future. They have been playing very good cricket of late, including reaching the final of the recent Asia Cup competition.”

South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) CEO Tony Irish commented: “Unfortunately this request has come through very late in the day by which stage most of the senior players had committed themselves to professional contracts abroad and it would be unfair to ask them to renege on them.

“The Proteas’ team management and players have also put their plans in place in the build-up to their tour of England and it would be impossible to change them at this stage. It is going to be a very tough tour and we will need a fully fresh and fit squad for this engagement.”