Former South Africa batting all-rounder Farhan Behardien is hoping that the brand new COVID-19 variant, which is inflicting alarm right here, is not going to jeopardise India’s tour of the nation subsequent month as younger cricketers of his nation want the collection “more than ever”.
The Indian group, through the practically seven-week project beginning December 17, is scheduled to play three Tests, three ODIs and 4 T20 Internationals throughout 4 venues — Johannesburg, Centurion, Paarl, and Cape Town.
But the brand new COVID variant has put the tour in limbo with the BCCI insisting that any resolution on the destiny of the collection might be taken based mostly on the federal government’s recommendation.
“I hope the biggest cricket nation in the world tours our country next month!! The future generation of South African players need it more than ever!!” Behardien tweeted.
As of now, India’s tour is on however it’s understood that the BCCI, within the subsequent few days, might be speaking to Cricket South Africa on the detection of the brand new variant — B.1.1.529 –, which has prompted appreciable panic throughout the globe.
The World Health Organisation named it Omicron on Friday. Cases are on the rise within the northern a part of the nation and not less than two venues for the Test collection — Johannesburg and Pretoria (close to Centurion) — might change into susceptible to the unfold of the Omicron variant.
Scientists imagine that the excessive variety of spike mutations might make the brand new variant extra proof against vaccines, make it extra transmissible and trigger a rise within the severity of COVID-19 signs. The 36-year-old Behardien, who’s a former T20 captain of the Proteas, additionally objected to the variant being recognized as South African.
“Its not the ‘South African’ variant, it was detected here among other places in the world. In the famous words of Martin Van Jaarsveld, the great Titans player, WAKE UP!!! #OmicronVariant,” he tweeted.
The new variant has already taken its toll on sports activities right here with reviews rising on Friday that the Netherlands have withdrawn from their ongoing ODI collection in Centurion. Cricket South Africa stated a call could be made solely within the subsequent two days as flight choices for the vacationers have been affected by the journey bans which have come into the impact because of the new variant.
Besides, the upcoming FIH Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup in South Africa was additionally placed on maintain on Friday resulting from worldwide fears concerning the new variant.
The prestigious event was to be held within the Rainbow Nation from December 5 to 16.