We Are Unaware Of Any Possible Postponement Of India's Tour To South Africa - CSA Chairperson Lawson Naidoo
Updated - 03 Dec 2021, 01:04 PM
Lawson Naidoo, the Cricket South Africa (CSA) chairperson, confirmed on Friday that the board hasn’t had any talks with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about postponing or delaying upcoming India‘s tour to South Africa.
It has been reported over the last couple of days that India’s departure for South Africa, which is scheduled for December 8 or 9, could be lushed back by a week as the BCCI wants to assess the details over the threat posed by the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, in South Africa.
India are currently hosting New Zealand in Mumbai, and are slated to depart soon after that for the South Africa tour which comprises three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is from December 17 to January 26.
Naidoo said that the two boards are keen to get the tour but will keep their eyes on the Omicron situation and will take their final call soon.
“We are unaware of any possible postponement of the Indian cricket tour to South Africa. We are engaging with the BCCI to ensure that the tour does go ahead. Any changes to the schedule will be discussed by the two boards. We are in regular contact with the BCCI with a view to ensuring that the tour can take place in an environment that is safe for all the players and officials,” Naidoo told IANS over e-mail.
A chartered plane will convey them to and from South Africa: Lawson Naidoo
Lawson Naidoo highlighted that a tour of the Indian team would be a great financial boost to any country. He assured that the players will be kept in tight bio-secure bubbles throughout their stay.
“A tour by India to any country is a great financial boost to the host country. The England and Australian fixtures have been rearranged for the coming years so the financial impact will ultimately be negligible.
“It was always planned that the games would be played within a BSE (bio-secure environment) set-up, the same measures that were put in place to ensure that the tours by Sri Lanka and Pakistan went off without a hitch earlier this year. The Indian team are due to travel by chartered plane to ensure their travel safety. A chartered plane will convey them to and from South Africa. Hotels have all been adequately protected with full Covid protocols in place,” the CSA chairperson explained.
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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Cricket South Africa (CSA) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
