India's practice match advanced owing to Mandela's funeral

Durban: Owing to Nelson Mandela's funeral on December 15, India's two-day practice match against South Africa Invitational XI has been advanced by a day.

The match was scheduled to be played on Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15 respectively.

Instead, now it will be played on Friday and Saturday. The venue of the match remains the same, Sahara Willomore Park, Benoni.

Madiba, as Mandela was fondly known, had been battling health issues in recent months, including a recurring lung infection that led to numerous hospitalisations.

Mandela, who emerged from prison after 27 years to lead South Africa out of decades of apartheid before becoming the country's first black leader, had faced several health scares over the years.

His most recent hospital stay spanning over three months was his longest since he walked free in 1990.

Mandela is respected worldwide for his role in fighting racism in South Africa, and for forgiving his former white captors after his release from prison.

Other sportspersons worldwide have also mourned the death of Mandela.