Johannesburg: Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola is confident that future Test series between India and South Africa would be granted icon status and consist of at least four matches.

The Proteas and India drew their third successive Test series (two in India and one in South Africa) to underline the exciting new rivalry they have brought to the world of Test match cricket.

The Proteas drew 1-1 in India in 2008 and 2010 and the current Castle Test series finished with the same result as the third Test at Sahara Park Newlands finished as a draw on Thursday.

"The high quality and huge popularity of the cricket that was delivered by both teams in the three-match Castle Test series between South Africa and India points irresistibly towards ensuring that future tours between these two top teams in world cricket are granted icon status," Majola said.

"This would entail a minimum of four Tests which would be a true contest between two teams that have produced the standard of cricket that will ensure the future of the game at this vital level.

"Both countries have the right mix of established stars, emerging players and structures to keep this high and exciting standard of Test cricket going for years to come," he added.

Majola said the cricketers have done their job well by putting up an exciting show and now it is upto the administrators to make the most of the rivalry that is developing.

"The value of the examples set on this milestone-filled tour to the youth in both countries, set by the likes of Jacques Kallis, Sachin Tendulkar, Dale Steyn and Harbhajan Singh, is inestimable.

"It is up to the administrators of cricket in both countries to build on this and make this role-model cricket sustainable by granting icon status to future tours with a minimum of four Tests between South Africa and India," he said.

Majola lavished praise on Jacques Kallis for his fine batting performance in the series.

"We especially salute Jacques Kallis for his skill and heroism and who has proved yet again that he is surely the greatest cricketer produced by South Africa. It was also an honour to see Sachin Tendulkar become the first batsman to score 50 Test centuries and to achieve this major milestone on our home soil," he said.