South Africa, England
South African cricketers at Newlands [Photo-CSA/Twiter]

The menace of the global contagion that is Covid-19 continues to plague the South African contingent after another unnamed cricketer returned positive for the virus, leading to the team calling off their inter-squad game ahead of the upcoming T20I and ODI series against England.

The development comes after one unnamed player had tested positive for the Wuhan virus in the first round of testing, forcing the management to isolate the infected player and two others, who had come in contact with him.

The total tally of affected players after two rounds of testing in the South African camp has gone to four. That said, Cricket South Africa, on Friday, clarified that the latest player to get affected by Covid is not related to the first case and that no other player has come in contact this time around.

South Africa, England
South African players train ahead of England series [Photo-CSA/Twitter]
CSA  further added that the name of the player will not be released owing to the doctor-patient confidentiality clause. The board also added that it is in close communication with their counterparts from the ECB, whose players have returned negative during both rounds of Covid-PCR testing.

“Team management and Cricket South Africa (CSA) are in close communication with their counterparts from the England Cricket Board (ECB) to ensure full transparency and the most responsible plan of action going forward.” CSA said in a press-release.

Cricket South Africa would like to reiterate that it will not release names of affected players because of doctor-patient confidentiality,” the statement said.

With South Africa’s warm-up game which was scheduled to take place on Saturday canceled, Marco Marais and Stefan Tait, who had been earlier called-up to assist the team for the match will no longer join the squad.

Meanwhile, England’s 40-over intra-squad game due to take place at Newlands on Saturday will go ahead as per the original schedule.

Both sides will lock horns in a series of six white-ball internationals [3 ODIs and 3 T20Is], starting with the T20I rubber in Cape Town from November 27.

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