BCCI President Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday said that India’s tour of South Africa is on schedule and they are closely monitoring the situation around the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant.
We have time to decide, SA tour is still on: BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly (PTI photo)
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- India all set to tour South Africa from December 17
- Several countries have imposed travel restrictions on South Africa
- India’s tour of South Africa is still on, says BCCI President Sourav Ganguly
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly said that India’s tour of South Africa is still on schedule. There is growing concern about the spread of the new COVID-19 variant called Omicron, which was first reported in South Africa.
“The tour is still on. We still have time to decide. The first Test is to be held on December 17. We will look into it,” Ganguly told reporters on the sidelines of a promotional event.
India will play the final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai and will depart for Johannesburg from there on December 8 or 9 on a chartered flight.
“The safety and health of the players has always been the first priority of the BCCI, we will do everything possible for that. We will see what happens in the coming days.”
India will play three Tests, three ODIs and four T20 matches on the tour.
The former India captain also backed out-of-favour all-rounder Hardik Pandya to regain his place in the team after being fully fit.
“He’s a good cricketer. He’s not fit, so he’s not in the team. He’s young, I hope he comes back after recovering from his injury.”
Recently, the legendary Kapil Dev had questioned Hardik Pandya’s role as an all-rounder in the India team after he stopped bowling after his back surgery.
Ganguly concluded, “Don’t compare him (Hardik) with Kapil Dev. He belonged to a different league.”
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