Cricket South Africa Plan On Resuming Sport With Unique Made-For-TV Match

The South African cricketers will resume cricket within their country with a fund-raising game as proposed Cricket South Africa (CSA). The matches will be a made-for-TV match, featuring no spectators, having three teams, beginning from the 27th of June at Centurion. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced cricket to a grinding halt with all the cricketers remaining in the confines of their homes due to the lockdown imposed by the governments.

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The South African cricketers travelled to India to play a three-match ODI series; however, returned in the wake of the virus outbreak. The first match in Dharamshala resulted in a washout. Before that, the Proteas played three-match ODI series against Australia, which they won it with ease. Their rubber against Sri Lanka in the Island nation was also postponed indefinitely.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive Jacques Faul suggested the matches to be fund-raisers and would take place only after requisite government clearances.

“Government have to gazette the Level 3 regulations and then the minister of sport will go over the return-to-play protocols that we have sent, which he must agree with. It’s in the hands of the department of sport, arts and culture, but they have been good with us. So hopefully we’ll be playing again at the end of June and we’ll start with the Proteas players, for obvious reasons.” Faul said as quoted by India Today.

Cricket South Africa chief medical officer assures of strict protocols in place:

CSA’s cheif medical officer Shuaib Manjra conceded that stringent protocols would be followed including having empty stadiums, keeping players under secure environment, testing players before and after matches, and the ground officials wearing masks.

“First of all it will be an empty stadium, we’re looking at the minimum number of people being there for the event to happen and be broadcast, which is about 200. The players will get in three days before and be kept in a sanitised eco-system, at the hotel, when they travel and at the stadium.

We will test the players before they get to Centurion and again five days afterwards in order to get rid of any false negatives. In the stadium, everyone will wear masks and doors will be kept open along with other safety measures.” Manjra stated.

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