Cape Town - South Africa will almost certainly not host India in the Boxing Day Test in 2017, while even the traditional New Year's Day Test is under threat.
The Proteas are due to host India over four Test matches in a tour that is still yet to be officially confirmed, but with India's home series against Sri Lanka only wrapping up on December 24, there is no possible way that Boxing Day cricket against India can happen in South Africa.
According to a report published on Cricinfo, Cricket South Africa (CSA) was exploring the possibility of hosting a one-off Test match against a yet-to-be-determined opposition on Boxing Day.
The New Year's Day Test, meanwhile, which is Cape Town's signature match each year, is also unlikely to get underway on January 2 as is usually the case.
That is because India, who will only arrive in South Africa towards the end of the year, will want sometime to acclimatise to conditions with at least one warm-up match before getting stuck into the Tests series.
CSA confirmed to Sport24 on Tuesday that they were still in discussions with the BCCI in trying to find solutions.
CSA will also have its hands full with the first ever T20 Global League, which will run until December 16.