Concerns over SA tour due to new variant

KANPUR: The new COVID-19 variant, which threatens to wreak havoc in South Africa, has led to considerable concerns over India’s tour of the Rainbow Nation next month with BCCI sources saying that any decision on the matter will be based on the government’s advice.

The ongoing India ‘A’ tour of South Africa, featuring three unofficial Tests in Bloemfontein, could be called off midway given the uncertain situation. The first game ended in a draw due to inclement weather on Friday and the second match starts on November 29. The team is in a bio-bubble and the matches are being played without spectators.

During a nearly seven-week long assignment starting December 17, the India senior team is scheduled to play three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is across four venues – Johannesburg, Centurion, Paarl and Cape Town. “Let us wait and watch; we will go by the government’s advisory. It is an evolving situation,” a BCCI source told PTI.

When asked about the tour and the rise of the new variant, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said: “This is an issue for our health and civil aviation authorities. It is a developing story.” The cases are on the rise in the northern part of South Africa and at least two venues for the Test series – Johannesburg and Pretoria (near Centurion) – could become vulnerable to the spread of the new variant.

“Look, till we get a detailed picture of the ground situation from Cricket South Africa (CSA), we will not be able to tell our next step. As per the current plan, the India team is supposed to leave either on December 8 or 9 just after the New Zealand series gets over in Mumbai,” the Board source said.

On Friday, it was reported that the Netherlands has withdrawn from its ongoing tour of South Africa while the first ODI between the two sides was being played in Centurion, the venue for the other two matches as well.