Test matches in SA to commence on Fridays: Magiet

All Test matches in South Africa will commence only on Fridays from this year. This was revealed by their chief selector Rushdi Magiet, in an exclusive chat with this correspondent on Monday.

Magiet said that to get more spectators on Sundays, the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) has decided to arrange the programme in such a manner that all Test matches in South Africa will commence on Fridays only.

Till now, Test matches in South Africa, like in England, began on Thursdays. However, the new decision has been taken to avoid the possibility of having no play on Sundays in case of the match getting over in three days time. The first Test between India and South Africa in Mumbai got over in three days time with the result the the cricket loving public of the city could not watch the match on a Sunday.

Magiet's visit to India has been sponsored by the UCBSA. ``They have a practice to send the convenor also on the tour along with the team.'' However, due to a wedding in the family (his son is getting married), Magiet will have to miss the Sri Lanka tour later this year.

This is Magiet's third visit to the country. ``I was an assistant manager (Ali Bacher was the manager) on the 1991-92 tour under Clive Rice's captaincy.''

During the World Cup in India in 1996, Magiet made his second trip to this country. ``I like India and feel like coming here often. The people in your country are very co-operative and cultured,'' remarked Magiet.

Magiet does not regret having no experience of playing Test cricket. ``Being a black cricketer, I was not allowed to play for the country.'' He is the first non-white chief selector of the country. ``The selectors do not necessarily have to be good cricketers. I have cricket in my blood and I live only for the game,'' remarked Magiet.

Regarding Tendulkar's decision to step down from the captaincy, Magiet believes it is a 'wise' decision. ``Sachin was not enjoying the leadership and his batting was getting affected due to the captaincy and therefore it was a 'good' decision on his part to leave it there itself. Sachin has decided to step down after the second Test in Bangalore commencing on Thursday.