India’s tour of South Africa set to go ahead as per schedule despite COVID-19 fears

India’s tour of South Africa is set to go ahead as per schedule despite the threats surrounding the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. The coronavirus pandemic recently made sure that Netherlands’ tour of the African nation had to be called off midway. However, India A’s red-ball matches against South Africa A went ahead without any interruption.

Cricket South Africa, in the meantime, assured the Board of Control for Cricket in India of taking all the precautionary measures and creating a safe bio-secure bubble for the international series. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly also said that there’s no change in schedule as far as the tour is concerned.

BCCI says no hard quarantine will be needed for players

Now, a BCCI official has confirmed the same. ”We are going to South Africa and that’s confirmed,” the official, privy to the development, was quoted as saying in Zee News on conditions of anonymity.

”The information we received is that the bio-bubble created by CSA is safe and secured. Also, there hasn’t been a lot of data available as of now as to how severe and detrimental it could be. Also, we have not received any communication from the government on not going ahead with the tour.

”The team will enter the bubble shortly and travel by a charter flight. Even if there is a delay, it will be bubble to bubble transfer and hence no hard quarantine will be required,” the source said.

India are scheduled to play three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is, starting Friday, December 17 with the opening Test at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. However, the BCCI is yet to announce the squads for the upcoming tour.

Earlier, due to the emergence of the new coronavirus variant, the selection meeting had to be postponed. The Chetan Sharma-led selection panel is set to pick the squads in a few days’ time. The players are also yet to get a clear picture on their dates of going into quarantine.

Team India are currently busy playing in the two-match Test series against New Zealand. The second Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is currently underway.