Golfers flee, cricketers seek flight out of South Africa
JOHANNESBURG: South African sport was thrown into turmoil on Friday following the announcement of travel bans following the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in the country.
There were numerous withdrawals from a professional golf tournament in Johannesburg, while two other tournaments in South Africa were negatively affected.
The Netherlands played a rain-hit one-day international against South Africa but the rest of their cricket tour of South Africa was in jeopardy.
The Joburg Open was reduced to 54 holes on Friday with home golfer Thriston Lawrence took the lead on the second day of the tournament.
After an exodus of 16 British and Irish players following Thursday’s opening round scrambling to get home to avoid quarantine, organisers took drastic action.
“The Sunshine Tour, DP World Tour and City of Johannesburg have decided to reduce the Joburg Open to 54 holes to help non-South African resident players, caddies and tournament support staff return to their home countries,” a statement announced.
“The decision was taken to help facilitate their safe return and give them an extra day to make travel arrangements.
“The move follows international travel restrictions imposed on South Africa on Friday due to the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant in the country,” it added.
Coronavirus has dictated that this first event of the new DP World Tour has not gone the way the rebranded European Tour would have hoped.
The Joburg Open was cosanctioned with South Africa’s Sunshine Tour and organisers announced that it would continue as an event carrying World Tour points.
But next week’s South African Open will lose its World Tour status and be played only as a Sunshine Tour event, while the Alfred Dunhill championship the following week, which was also due to be a co-sanctioned event, has been cancelled.
Home hope Lawrence shut out all the drama to card a second straight 65 to leave him 12 under par with a midway lead of four shots.
Compatriot Zander Lombard led the chasing pack with England’s Ashley Chesters one shot adrift.
Chesters added a 69 to his opening 66 as he battled to concentrate on his game.
“There’s all sorts of other things going on so I’ve got to try and work out what’s going on with that. But on the golf course hopefully I can just keep doing what I’ve been doing.”
Meanwhile, the Netherlands’ cricket tour of South Africa was also under threat.
A joint statement from Cricket South Africa and the Netherlands Cricket Board (KNCB) said a decision on the continuation of the tour would be made “in the next 24 to 48 hours”.
The statement was made during a rain delay in the first of three one-day internationals at SuperSport Park.
“Both boards can confirm that following updated information, it is highly unlikely that the visiting team will be able to fly out of South Africa over the weekend.
“The KNCB is reviewing all of its options, while prioritising the physical and mental well-being of its players.
“A decision on the continuation of the series will follow in the next 24 to 48 hours, while all flight options are being considered.”
The second one-day game is scheduled for Centurion on Sunday with a third match planned for Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The British government announced on Thursday that South Africa had been placed on the country’s “red list” and that all travellers from South Africa arriving after Sunday would face a mandatory quarantine period of two weeks.