NEW DELHI: The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has put a hold on the selection meeting for the upcoming tour of South Africa. TOI has learnt that the board is awaiting clearance from the government before going ahead with the tour. South Africa has been identified as ‘at-risk country’ after the emergence of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus.
The selection meeting was planned for just after the first Test in Kanpur. The players who have been rested for the ongoing home series against New Zealand were supposed to undergo a five-day quarantine before entering the bubble for South Africa on the night of December 8. The players have not been intimated yet about the exact itinerary.
Players like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul and Shardul Thakur are waiting for clear communication from BCCI about joining the bubble. After the end of the T20I series, they were informed they would have to be in quarantine in Mumbai by December 3.
The selection meeting was planned for just after the first Test in Kanpur. The players who have been rested for the ongoing home series against New Zealand were supposed to undergo a five-day quarantine before entering the bubble for South Africa on the night of December 8. The players have not been intimated yet about the exact itinerary.
Players like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul and Shardul Thakur are waiting for clear communication from BCCI about joining the bubble. After the end of the T20I series, they were informed they would have to be in quarantine in Mumbai by December 3.
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Any bio-bubble is only as effective as those inside it make it. During the England tour this year, the bio-bubble was breached. Better discipline should be maintained this time.
The development comes on the day South Africa’s ministry of international relations and cooperation issued a statement thanking BCCI for letting the India ‘A’ team stay back to complete the series in Bloemfontein. In the statement, the ministry also assured that the Indian team will be kept in the best of bio-secure bubbles.
“South Africa will take all precautions necessary to ensure the health and safety of the Indian teams. A full bio-secure environment will be established around both the South African and Indian ‘A’ teams as well as the two national teams,” the statement read.
However, BCCI isn’t committing anything yet. “Cricket South Africa and their government are doing everything to ensure the tour goes on. But BCCI is awaiting nod from the central government. Things will be clear in a couple of days. The players too need to be assured of the arrangements.
“The board doesn’t want a repeat of what happened in Manchester when an outbreak within the camp got the players travelling with their families jittery,” a top BCCI official said.
VVS to join NCA after NZ series
Former India batter VVS Laxman will do the formalities to join the NCA as cricket head only after the Test series against New Zealand. Laxman is currently completing his broadcast commitments.
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