T20Is postponed, India to play Tests and ODIs on South Africa tour
The BCCI have confirmed that the India tour of South Africa will go ahead. However, the teams will only play Tests and ODIs while T2OIs have been postponed. The series was in jeopardy after the Omicron Variant of COVID-19 gripped South Africa. Omicron is considered to be far more contagious thus many countries have imposed bans on travellers from South Africa.
However, since India A team was already in South Africa and the BCCI was satisfied with the safety of the bubble, they decided to go ahead with the tour. Earlier, the South Africa health ministry had also ensured the complete safety of the Indian players. The team was set to leave for South Africa on December 9, however, there could be a minor delay in the departure.
The players will travel to South Africa via a chartered flight. Since it will be a bubble to bubble transfer, the players will not have to serve hard quarantine.
“The information we received is that the bio-bubble created by CSA is safe and secured. Also there hasn’t been a lot of data available as of now as to how severe and detrimental it could be. Also we have not received any communication from the government on not going ahead with the tour.
“The team will enter the bubble shortly and travel by a charter flight. Even if there is a delay, it will be bubble to bubble transfer and hence no hard quarantine will be required,” the source said.