MUMBAI: The emergence of a new B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant in South Africa, which sparked international concern on Friday, is also threatening to derail India’s upcoming tour to the Rainbow Nation.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keeping a close watch on the situation, before taking a call on the tour, even as a growing list of countries announced travel curbs on countries in southern Africa.
Flights out of South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Zambia now face restrictions – with officials unclear on when curbs will be lifted, Deutsche Welle reported.
The Indian tour of South Africa is scheduled to begin from December 17 and an India A team has already reached, where it is scheduled to play three unofficial Test matches, the first of which is currently under way. Senior players are scheduled to travel to South Africa on December 8, after the completion of the second and final Test against New Zealand.
BCCI officials indicated to Sportstar that they are awaiting further details and an advisory from Cricket South Africa about the road ahead. Meanwhile, the Indian cricket board is awaiting the government’s decision before taking a call on whether to go ahead with the main tour.
“It is difficult to predict what will happen over the next few days. Our respective units are monitoring the situation and depending on the situation, we will act. The safety of the players is paramount for us and we will do everything to ensure that all our members are safe and healthy,” a board official told Sportstar.
Cricket South Africa’s acting chief executive officer Pholetsi Moseki said the much-needed (for CSA for sure) India tour is very much on the cards.
Moseki told local media that the BCCI has assured them the money-spinning three-Test, three-ODI and four-T20 tour will take place.
“We spoke to the BCCI and they are very much committed to the tour,” said Moseki.
“India A is still in the country and there isn’t a sign of them leaving. They’re still committed and they’re expecting the tour to go ahead.
“The tour is definitely still on and there’s no reason for it not to go on unless we’re blindsided by something we’re not expecting.”
“The question that remains is whether fans will be allowed in. We’ve been angling to have more fans in the stadiums,” Moseki said.
“With the way things are panning out, I guess the only thing we can do now is to wait on the government and see what happens.
“We hope we don’t get to a state where there is a total shutdown.”
Moseki, though is confident that their bio-bubbles are more than adequate to pass muster for the India series.
After the controversy of the England series last year, subsequent bio-bubbles that hosted Sri Lanka and Pakistan were beyond exemplary.
“Our bio-bubbles are very strong because you need to remember the England one that ended up being a disaster,” Moseki said.
“We jacked up our bio-bubbles after that and the spectator matter is something that’s not in our control.
As per the original schedule, the tour will begin with the first Test in Johannesburg between December 17 and 21. It will be followed by the Boxing Day Test in Centurion and the third Test in Cape Town between January 3 and 7. There will also be a three-match ODI series, followed by a T20I series.
