Indian Team Set To Travel To South Africa After BCCI Convinced Of Bio-Bubble Strength, No Hard Quarantine Required: Reports

Team India will travel to South Africa to complete their commitments after the BCCI has been convinced by the CSA about the strength of the bio-bubble.

The schedule of the tour – which comprises three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is from December 17 to January 26 – had been under uncertainty recently over the threat posed by the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, in South Africa. However, now, a BCCI official confirmed to PTI that the Indian board has given the green signal to the tour.

“We are going to South Africa and that’s confirmed,” a senior BCCI official, privy to the development, told PTI.

The official announcement is expected to be made after Saturday’s BCCI AGM as India’s FTP tour is one of the topics on the agenda.

The Indian team might leave a bit late rather than the scheduled departure – which is for December 8 or 9 – after the home series against New Zealand.

“The matches are likely to be held behind closed doors but for CSA, their financial health depends on the India team’s visit as multi-million dollar TV rights are at stake,” the report added.

Indian players to travel by a charter flight, no hard quarantine required

The good news for the Indian players is that no hard quarantine will be required upon landing in South Africa as they will be taking a charter flight.

“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 added.

The BCCI, meanwhile, is also concerned about the fact that the Indian players may have to undergo quarantine upon returning home from South Africa, considering that they host West Indies in February.

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