Cricket given the go-ahead to resume

CRICKET South Africa said yesterday’s announcement by the South African government that all non-contact sport could resume behind closed doors was “massive” for cricket.

Co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said yesterday that non-contact sports would be allowed under level 3 lockdown regulations, paving the way for cricketers, golfers, tennis players, and track and field athletes to resume training, while observing social distancing measures.

“The moment we can return to train it helps us,” said CSA’s interim chief executive Jacques Faul.

Dlamini-Zuma outlined new regulations that allow for “a professional non-contact sports match, which may only include players, match officials, journalists and medical and television crew,” will be allowed with sports, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa due to provide directions on how that will occur. Mthethwa is due to brief the media today.

CSA had been in contact with Mthethwa through Sascoc’s “War Room”, where they informed the minister that as a non-contact sport cricket should be allowed to operate at level 3.

Faul couldn’t say when the Proteas men’s players, who are due to face the West Indies in July would be able to get together to train in one group. “Look, we (are) just thankful that now, they can get to a stadium and train. That is important, even if it’s in small groups. We are thankful for this first step,” Faul said. Faul also said it was too early at this stage to speculate about the West Indies tour – which would comprise of two Tests and five T20s – although all options remain open including playing the series in SA or even in England where the West Indies are due to play next month.