CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A series between the top two Test teams promises much on the field, where excitement and drama is desperately needed to distract from the ill feeling between the Indian and South African cricket boards.

It is number two-ranked India’s sublime batting lineup against top-ranked South Africa’s fierce fast bowlers. And who is picked at number four for India in place of the retired Sachin Tendulkar is a story all on its own.

But the buildup to the battle at the top of the Test rankings has so far been more about officials at the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Cricket South Africa going head-to-head in a game of cricket politics.

CSA appointed Haroon Lorgat as its new chief executive in July against the wishes of the BCCI, which responded by cancelling games and cutting its tour by more than half, leaving South Africa with a depleted home season.

What is left is a brief two-Test series and three one-day internationals, with the BCCI stripping seven international games from its itinerary in South Africa because of the spat.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni recognised the squabbling between the boards as his team arrived in South Africa.

“We can arrange a match for the administrators and let them go at them because we were busy playing cricket and we had nothing to do with it,” Dhoni said.

In contrast, Dhoni said, the Indian and South African players have always enjoyed a competitive but respectful rivalry — something lost on the administrators.

“We see a bit of chirping going around, which makes cricket very interesting,” Dhoni.

India’s lineup at the Wanderers will be dominated by one question: Who will replace the irreplaceable Tendulkar at number four?

There are already three ultra-strong contenders in Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. So far the Indians say they haven’t decided, while the team maybe hasn’t yet fully come to terms with the absence of Tendulkar.