"There can't be better preparation than that" - Aakash Chopra questions whether India should play South Africa before WTC final and IND vs ENG Tests

Aakash Chopra has questioned whether India and South Africa should play a Test against each other in England ahead of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final. He pointed out that it would be ideal preparation for the two sides ahead of their crucial fixtures.

South Africa will face Australia in the WTC final in Lord's from June 11 onwards. India will square off against England in a five-match Test series, with the first game starting in Leeds on June 20.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the cricketer-turned-commentator wondered whether India and South Africa should play a Test in England after IPL 2025.

"The South Africa-Australia final will start on June 11. South Africa are saying that they are trying to find a team that is free. It could be Zimbabwe or some other team that can play a match against them in England at some county ground so that they can get prepared. Not that throws an idea. If South Africa are thinking, why can't we?" he said (10:20).

"Can we think about us playing against South Africa? The IPL would get over on May 25 and our tour will start on June 20. So we have time. So can we play something like a Test match against South Africa in the time between May 25 and June 11? It is not a bad idea. There can't be better preparation than that," Chopra added.

Chopra acknowledged that preparations might have to be done hurriedly for such a game. However, he added that neither side would have anything to lose, highlighting that although it would be an official Test match, it wouldn't come in the WTC cycle.

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"The ECB could put a spanner in the works" - Aakash Chopra on the preparatory game between India and South Africa

India drew their last Test series in England. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) could convince a county to host the game but added that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could play spoilsport.

"If the two boards are ready, they can convince some county to host it, that they could get some guaranteed money, and for the rest, they would sell it to a broadcaster. I don't know if that's a possibility but I have floated an idea. However, the ECB could put a spanner in the works," he said (11:45).

The former India opener pointed out that the ECB might not want the visitors to get quality practice ahead of the five-match series against England.

"They might not allow India to play because the county and the ECB might earn money, but would it sabotage the five-match series between India and England as India won't get a better chance to prepare? So that is one thing that could go against this idea but it's not a bad thing as a thought," Chopra observed.

The last Test series between India and England in England ended in a 2-2 draw. The visitors took a 2-1 lead after the first four Tests played in 2021. However, they lost the final Test, postponed due to COVID-19, in July 2022 in Birmingham