Like the England cricket team, South African national cricket team has also decided to avoid handshakes in the upcoming cricket matches. The Proteas Head Coach Mark Boucher has confirmed it.
Due to the global spread of COVID-19 or Coronavirus, everyone is taking it seriously. This disease has hugely affected the overall global market, including the sports sector. As India and Sri Lanka are still in the safest zone from this threatening disease, the foreign cricket teams are still travelling at present.
While England have already reached in Sri Lanka for the two-match Test series, South African players are ready for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the hosts India. This ODI series between India and South Africa will run between 12th and 18th March.
England camp has already decided to avoid handshakes, and they only involve in the fist bump during the upcoming cricket matches.
South African Head Coach Mark Boucher has also clarified that the players will avoid the handshakes during the ongoing India tour.
Ahead of the ODI series, Boucher claimed, “With regards to handshakes and type of stuff that’s a concern, so it will probably be fine if we do the same if it comes to that. I think it’s a way to stop anything from happening to our guys. I think it’s out of respect for players around you and not to pass on something that you might have.”
Mark Boucher clarifies that they are following the instructions from the medical staff
Boucher has also added that this tour is running after their security and medical staff have given the green signal. If COVID-19 took the dangerous stage in India, their medical staff would not recommend them to tour in India at the present condition, and that would affect the forthcoming series.
Boucher added, “Look we have a security staff and if we have medical concerns, we give it to them and they come up with recommendations. If they think it’s too dangerous, they will pull us out and they are no different. We had a nice brief last night from medical staff about the virus going around is that its a major concern. We are not medical people and we don’t know medicine as they do.
“So we have taken their recommendations and I am sure they have put stuff in places that are going to help us.”
India and South Africa will play the opening game of the ODI series at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (Dharamsala) on this Thursday (12th March).