India tour of South Africa: BCCI delays squads selection, awaits clearance from government
India (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have reportedly put the squad selection of the team’s upcoming tour of South Africa on hold. The news comes after a new variant of COVID-19, Omicron swept South Africa, which has put the fate of the series in jeopardy. UAE, the USA, and several European nations have also imposed bans and travel restrictions for people coming in from South Africa. The BCCI is also awaiting confirmation from the government to tour South Africa.
If a report in Times of India is anything to go by, then selectors have put the selection of the India squad on hold. The selectors were set to meet after the conclusion of the Kanpur Test but the meeting was delayed. The players were also scheduled to undergo 8-day quarantine before leaving for South Africa on December 9. The board, however, is yet to provide any update. The likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Shardul Thakur are waiting to get a green signal from BCCI about joining the bubble.
Earlier, South Africa’s foreign ministry had assured BCCI that the Indian team will be provided with a fully secure bio-bubble for the series.
“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.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has also said that the tour is still on as per schedule. However, he stated players’ safety and health are paramount and a decision will be taken accordingly.
