The suspense over India’s tour of South Africa continues, with the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) but to take a name on the destiny of the tour.
Whereas a number of sources within the Board have indicated that they’re in common conversations with Cricket South Africa and the federal government, there’s a excessive probability of the tour getting delayed. Whereas an official assertion is predicted over the subsequent couple of days, India captain Virat Kohli confirmed that the group’s head coach Rahul Dravid has initiated a dialog inside the group concerning the sequence.
“We’re not taking part in in regular instances anyway, so there are many planning concerned, numerous preparation that’s concerned. There are gamers who will not be a part of the group now, might be getting into quarantine to affix the group and fly to South Africa in a chartered flight. So, there are lot of issues that you’d need a readability on as quickly as potential,” Kohli stated on the eve of India’s second Take a look at in opposition to New Zealand, scheduled to start on Friday.
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“We now have spoken to the senior members of the squad and Rahul bhai has initiated a dialog inside the group, which is essential to know. Our focus from the second Take a look at won’t shift regardless, however it’s also vital to have readability and also you wish to be ready the place what precisely is occurring. We now have been speaking to the Board and we’re fairly assured that inside a day or two or fairly quickly, we may have readability as to what’s going on.”
The heavily-mutated Omicron variant of COVID-19 was recognized final month in South Africa, and instances have doubled within the nation during the last 24 hours. Whereas a number of international locations have imposed journey restrictions to South Africa, the Indian gamers are awaiting readability.
“We should be reasonable about issues as nicely. We can not ignore the issues that would probably put you in a complicated state. Nobody needs to be there, so everyone seems to be working exhausting to search out readability and giving us the scenario because it unfolds, as quickly as potential. That can occur quickly.”
Whereas the Board needs to have a clearer image by Saturday, it’s also evident that even the group is apprehensive – particularly after what occurred in England a few months in the past, the place the final Take a look at needed to be referred to as off resulting from COVID-19 instances within the Indian camp.