The Indian staff is scheduled to depart for South Africa on December 8 – a day after the Take a look at sequence in opposition to New Zealand will get over.
However now, with fears growing over the brand new COVID-19 South Africa variant, the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) is retaining an in depth eye on the state of affairs, earlier than taking a name on the tour of South Africa.
The India A staff is at present in South Africa for an unofficial Take a look at sequence, and the senior staff’s seven-week task is scheduled to start on December 17.
The BCCI officers, Sportstar spoke to, indicated that they’re awaiting additional particulars and advisory from Cricket South Africa concerning the street forward.
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Earlier, the Board had deliberate to cast off onerous quarantine for the gamers upon their arrival in South Africa as they might be in a bubble-to-bubble switch. Nevertheless, with the specter of a brand new variant – B.1.1.529 – the Board doesn’t need to take any dangers. “It’s too early to touch upon the way forward for the tour. As of now, we’re weighing all of the choices and retaining a tab on the state of affairs,” a supply within the BCCI stated, indicating that the gamers could possibly be put beneath onerous quarantine for about 4 days upon their arrival within the rainbow nation.
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The members of the India A staff didn’t bear any onerous quarantine after reaching South Africa. The gamers educated quickly after reaching the nation and even featured within the first unofficial Take a look at in Bloemfontein. The second Take a look at begins from November 29. A number of sources confirmed that there has not been any communication from the BCCI about any tweak or adjustments to the A staff’s tour.
Cricket South Africa has taken all of the measures to make sure the A staff is protected, and it has been communicated to the staff that the brand new variant has been discovered within the northern a part of the nation, and it shouldn’t be a matter of concern.
Speaking to Sportstar, India A staff supervisor Anil Patel stated: “The staff is in bio-bubble and no outsider can enter the resort. The resort and the grounds space have been correctly sanitised. So, issues are alright. We’re in contact with CSA officers and medical groups frequently.”
Ishan Kishan and Deepak Chahar, who reached South Africa on Thursday, have examined detrimental upon their arrival and are at present in quarantine. “The staff got here in a chartered flight and we’ll return in a chartered flight as properly. BCCI has made all preparations, in order of now, the sequence is on as per schedule,” Patel stated.
By way of the India senior staff’s tour, a Board official stated: “It’s tough to foretell what is going to occur over the following few days. Our respective models are monitoring the state of affairs and relying on the state of affairs, we’ll act. The protection of the gamers is paramount for us and we’ll do every thing to make sure that all our members are protected and wholesome.”
It’s believed that even the gamers can be consulted earlier than taking a choice.
As per the unique schedule, the tour will start with the primary Take a look at in Johannesburg between December 17 and 21. It is going to be adopted by the Boxing Day Take a look at in Centurion and the third Take a look at in Cape City between January 3 and seven. There may also be a three-match ODI sequence, adopted by a T20I sequence.