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'It would be quite nice if India come to South Africa'
Dale Steyn does not want the stand-off between the BCCI and CSA to result in a curtailed series between India and South Africa later this year as the speedster says the two teams share a "great cricketing rivalry".
"It would be quite nice if India come to South Africa. There has always been a great rivalry between the two sides," said Steyn on Monday.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India's decision to invite the West Indies to tour India in November effectively means the schedule for India's tour to South Africa will have to be shortened.
A final decision in this regard will only be taken after the BCCI's Annual General Meeting in Chennai on September 29. The BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel and Cricket South Africa CEO Haroon Lorgat had a meeting on the sidelines of the ICC's Chief Executives conclave in Dubai but the discussions failed to break the deadlock.
The dispute is reported to be fuelled by BCCI's dissatisfaction that CSA appointed Lorgat to the chief executive position despite objections from BCCI. Lorgat had been at loggerheads with the BCCI while he was the chief executive of the ICC before taking up his current position.
'It will be nice to have that contest especially now that I know him well'
Steyn said he is eagerly waiting for his duel with India's new batting sensation Shikhar Dhawan during the Test and ODI series.
"Shikhar (Dhawan) is in some good form right now. It will be nice to have that contest especially now that I know him well. It will be a great battle between good friends as well as strength and strength because he is batting really well at the moment," Steyn said of his Sunrisers Hyderabad team mate.
Coming back from an injury, Steyn said he is working hard to get back to top shape ahead of South Africa's domestic season.
"I haven't played for a while or done gym work. But otherwise, I am not really conservative in my approach. I am not afraid of getting injured again. I've just got to remember that probably it's just a little bit of stiffness that has crept in," he said ahead of his team's match against Trinadad and Tobago in Mohali on Tuesday.
'There is no point in going full tilt from the first ball'
The Champions League T20 is Steyn's first competitive outing since he picked up a side strain and groin injury during the ICC Champions Trophy in England in June.
"I am just taking it easy. There is no point in going full tilt from the first ball; you have to build it up. I feel like every game that I have played so far on the tournament, I have gotten better," he said.
Steyn said Champions League has provided him with the "perfect platform" to get back in shape.
"You get a couple of hours of competitive cricket and you can stand in the field for 20 overs. It's not exactly the ideal preparation for Test match cricket but I think it's a good start for me.
"I don't think you want to jump straight into the shark tank with the longer version, it's quite difficult, so this is about getting perfect," he said.
Steyn said they are a happy bunch of youngsters and everyone shares a "great camaraderie."
"It's like that last season too, during this year's IPL. We have been together for a while now and there is a great camaraderie among the players, the family members and everyone who is here. We have gotten to know each other very well."