BCCI Waiting For Indian Government's Approval For South Africa Tour, Series Could Be Reduced To 2 Tests: Reports

The uncertainties continue to hover over India’s tour of South Africa, which is scheduled for later this month, amid the emergence of a new covid-19 variant in South Africa.

This new virus has forced the country into another lockdown, and South Africa have been placed on the red-list of several nations.

The BCCI has put the selection committee meeting for the series on hold and delayed the announcement of the squad amid the threat posed by the discovery of the ‘Omicron’.

According to a report by the Times of India, the BCCI is waiting for clearance from the Indian government before sending the team to South Africa.

According to the original schedule, the Indian team was scheduled to fly out on December 8 or 9, soon after the completion of the second Test against New Zealand in Mumbai. However, it is unclear whether the BCCI will stick to that plan now.

Rohit Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami, who were rested for the New Zealand series, were asked to enter a mandatory quarantine in Mumbai from December 3. Still, according to the report, they are yet to be given a clear itinerary.

India-South Africa Test series could be reduced to 2 Tests from 3

Doubts have also emerged about whether the players would be needed to undergo quarantine upon landing in South Africa and whether they’d be allowed to take their families with them.

The TOI report also stated that with plenty of confusion over the schedule, the series could be rescheduled where the two teams might play two and not three Tests, with the first Test being pushed back.

“Until the players get a reply from the BCCI, confusion will prevail because nobody knows anything. But if you look at the statement that’s been released by a ministerial department of the government of South Africa, it emphasizes on the security process and thanks BCCI for the deep relationship the two countries have shared. That’s their way of saying, ‘come and we’ll take care’. The ball is now in BCCI’s court,” sources privy to developments told TOI.

On Tuesday, the South African ministry for international relations and cooperation issued a statement thanking the Indian team for not calling the India ‘A’ team back from the country.

The Test series between India and South Africa is part of the World Test Championship cycle.

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