Cricket South Africa has postponed a round of domestic games after some of the team members tested COVID-19 positive on arrival, raising fresh concerns for the India tour later this month.
The BCCI will soon take a call on the tour, which is scheduled to begin with the first Test in Johannesburg from December 17. The detection of the new COVID-19 variant omicron in South Africa has stoked fears around the world and cast a shadow on the India series.
Cricket South Africa Confirmed Postponement Of Domestic Fixtures
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has postponed the domestic series matches due to the spread of Covid-19 in the camp and with that many uncertainties are surrounding the India Tour Of South Africa 2021.
India is set to travel to South Africa for a nearly seven-week assignment which will begin on December 17. During the tour, India will play three Test games, three One Day Internationals, and four T20 Internationals across four venues – Johannesburg, Centurion, Paarl, and Cape Town.
“Cricket South Africa can confirm that all three, Round 4, Division Two CSA 4-Day Domestic Series matches scheduled to take place between 02-05 December have been postponed,” the board said in a statement.
“The competition is not being held in a Bio-Secure Environment (BSE) and in the last couple of days, some positive COVID-19 test results have emerged following team pre-arrival testing sessions.
“Activating the precautionary and preventative measures stipulated in the organization’s COVID-19 protocols to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all involved is a top priority for CSA.”
The India series, if it takes place, will be held in a strict bio-secure environment.
“CSA is monitoring the situation closely and a decision regarding the remainder of the fixtures this year will be made in due course as it develops.
“In addition, the CSA B-section 3-Day and 1-Day matches featuring Northerns and Easterns set for the same weekend have also been postponed until 2022,” the CSA added.
According to the reports, BCCI is set to request Cricket South Africa to postpone the India tour of South Africa by a week and one Test match is set to be removed from the three-match Test series. India’s tour of South Africa is set to be delayed at least by a week.
“The Indian team was scheduled to fly out on December 9 via a charter flight, but according to sources, that has been put on hold. Squads selection for the South Africa tour, too, has been deferred.
Cricket South Africa Postponed All 3 Division 2 Four Day Matches
Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Thursday postponed all three Division 2 four-day matches scheduled to take place between December 2-5 after some players were tested positive for COVID-19.
This is the first disruption to the domestic cricket season in South Africa since the discovery of the Omicron variant of coronavirus last week. Earlier, the second and third ODIs between South Africa and the Netherlands were called off after several countries, including many in the European Union, imposed travel restrictions on southern Africa.
Notably, the India A team is currently in a bio-bubble in Bloemfontein, where they are playing the second of three unofficial Tests and there is no indication of them leaving earlier than planned.
However, it’s understood there are concerns about the senior side’s arrival because South African scientists predict that cases will continue to go up in the country in the next month. Speaking on the eve of India’s second Test against New Zealand, Virat Kohli, Test, and ODI skipper said that a conversation has been initiated within the team and expected clarity on the situation soon.