JOHANNESBURG, July 7: South Africa will vote in favour of changing international touring programme, which will lead to less Tests against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, when ICC meet at their new headquarters in Dubai next month.

United Cricket Board’s (UCB) CEO, Gerald Majola, who will attend Dubai meeting, said current four-year programme simply made the international schedule too ‘congested’.

“It also doesn’t allow you to play against countries which will give you the best revenue and competition,” he said.

“We want to play against these countries (Bangladesh and Zimbabwe), but it’s about when we play them. The programme must be flexible. We can’t have these teams here in December. We want to play them but not during peak period of the season.”

Although ICC affiliates have yet to reach final agreement on the programme, their hands may be forced by gods of television who will not be in favour of showing matches that barely last three days as was case in recent Test matches between England and Bangladesh.

“We’re asking the countries to buy into something much different and after that we have to decide whether it will be a six-year programme or a longer one. I wouldn’t like to guess outcome. In my experience our boards tend to surprise us but I am certain we will move away from present programme,” said Ehsan Mani, the ICC president.

A decision on a new programme was stalled at last week’s ICC meeting because smaller nations insisted on maintaining status quo, well aware that their financial interests lie in playing top sides.

Majola said UCB was in favour of sending South Africa ‘A’ team to countries like Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Kenya, while continuing to play them at One-day International level.

He confirmed that South Africa will play at least five One-day Internationals in India in November fulfilling an obligation held over from 2004.

South Africa played two Tests in India in November, but because of India’s impending hosting of Pakistan, ODIs against South Africa were postponed.—Agencies