CSA postpones domestic matches due to COVID-19 threat ahead of SA vs IND series
South Africa team (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)
India will be up against South Africa in the upcoming three-match Test series starting on December 26. Ahead of the Test series, the domestic matches got underway in South Africa. However, in a disappointing piece of news, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has now announced that the fifth-round matches of Division and One and Two have been postponed keeping in mind the view of the COVID-19 situation in the country.
The Omicron is spreading rapidly in the African parts of the region and CSA are taking preventive measures. Also, domestic matches are held outside the bio-bubble environment, which slightly complicated the situation.
“The decision to defer the fifth round of matches, which were scheduled to take place between December 16-19 (Division Two) and December 19-22 (Division One), was taken as a safeguarding measure in light of the competition being held outside of a bio-secure environment and amid the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Cricket South Africa (CSA) in a statement.
Meanwhile, India are gearing up for the three-match Test series against South Africa. Among the SENA countries, South Africa remains a hurdle that India are yet to cross. Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels, this is a good chance for the team to finally win a Test series in South Africa. He feels the Proteas batting lineup is ordinary after the retirement of AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis.
“I believe this is India’s golden opportunity to win their first Test series in South Africa. If we look at their team, it is not as strong as it used to be. Even in the last tour, players like AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis… those guys never allowed India to win there. Although India has played well there, they have never won a series and this is their best chance because their batting isn’t great,” said Harbhajan Singh while speaking on his YouTube channel.
