Health and security of cricketers paramount, monitoring state of affairs: BCCI on India ‘A’ gamers in South Africa

The BCCI has taken be aware of the Covid-forced postponement of the ODI sequence between South Africa and the Netherlands and is consistently monitoring the state of affairs, with the India ‘A’ workforce at present touring the nation. And though the cricket board isn’t pulling the plug on the tour as but, issues can change within the coming days.
“We are in constant touch with Cricket South Africa, while continuously monitoring the situation over there. Health and safety of the cricketers are paramount and we will act accordingly,” BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal informed The Sunday Express.
Asked in regards to the Health Ministry advisory to all of the states that recognized the brand new variant of the virus, B.1.1.529, to doubtlessly have “serious public health implications”, he mentioned: “Health Ministry’s directive is supreme. If we get any advisory in this regard, we will certainly follow that.”
The India ‘A’ workforce is touring South Africa for 3 unofficial Tests, three one-dayers and 4 T20s. The senior workforce will go away for the nation, after their ongoing house sequence in opposition to New Zealand, to play three Tests, three ODIs and 4 T20Is. Back in September, the Indian workforce had refused to play the fifth Test in opposition to England in Manchester following a Covid outbreak within the camp.
The new variant of the Covid-19 virus has began inflicting panic in sure nations together with South Africa, prompting worldwide groups and gamers to fly out on the earliest. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated the variant as a “variant of concern (VoC)”, giving it the identify Omicron.
On Saturday, Cricket South Africa confirmed the postponement of South Africa’s three-match ODI sequence in opposition to the Netherlands, mentioning Covid issues. “Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond (KNCB) have mutually agreed to defer the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series which began on Friday,” mentioned a CSA assertion.
It added: “The resolution comes because of mounting anxiousness and concern on the facet of the visiting workforce round journey bans and restrictions on flights from South Africa being imposed by a number of nations all over the world, together with the United Kingdom (UK), European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA).
These actions are because of Thursday’s announcement by the National Department of Health of South Africa of a brand new variant of the COVID-19 virus found within the nation.”
The CSA assertion got here on the heels of an International Cricket Council press launch that introduced the abandonment of the ladies’s World Cup qualifier in South Africa’s neighbouring nation Zimbabwe. “The International Cricket Council today announced that the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021 in Harare has been called off due to the introduction of travel restrictions from a number of African countries, including the host country Zimbabwe, following the breakout of a new COVID-19 variant in southern Africa,” the ICC launch acknowledged.

As per the South African authorities’s Covid knowledge issued by its well being division, 2,828 new circumstances have been detected on Friday, taking the variety of whole energetic circumstances to 19,938. The Covid surge has led to withdrawals from different sporting occasions as effectively, just like the Joburg Open golf event, whereas the United Rugby Championship has been placed on maintain.
A complete of 600 individuals left South Africa for Amsterdam on two flights on Friday and Reuters reported, quoting the Dutch well being authorities, that 61 of them examined constructive for Covid-19 on arrival.
With regards to the continued India ‘A’ workforce tour and the senior workforce’s upcoming tour of South Africa, the BCCI can be aware of the remark from CSA’s appearing CEO Pholetsi Moseki. In the CSA press launch he mentioned: “We are disappointed by the unfortunate situation we find ourselves in, but the comfort of all visiting teams must always be paramount. The mental well-being of players is one of CSA’s top priorities, and we respect our visitors’ position and point of view.”