Omicron interrupts South Africa’s tour of India, 4 T20 matches to be played later

“BCCI has confirmed to CSA that the Indian team will travel for three Tests and three ODIs. The remaining four T20 matches will be played at a later date,” Shah told ANI.

Earlier, ANI had reported that India’s tour of South Africa may be pushed back by a week due to the threat of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

A BCCI official had confirmed to ANI on Thursday that both the boards are in constant touch and a decision will be taken keeping in mind the safety of the players.

“We are in discussions to push the series back by a week due to the threat of the Omicron COVID variant and we await the approval of the Government of India, both the boards are in constant touch and everything is being discussed. The health and safety of the players is of utmost importance,” the senior official had told ANI.

India was originally scheduled to tour South Africa for three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is. Right now this tour will start from 17th December.

Earlier, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur had said that the BCCI should consult the government before sending a cricket team to South Africa where a new COVID-19 variant has emerged.

“Not only BCCI, but every board should also consult the Government of India before sending a team to a country where a new COVID-19 variant has emerged. It is not right to send a team to a country where there is danger It is, if BCCI consults us that we will consider that,” Thakur had told ANI in Baghpat here.

The World Health Organization (WHO) named the new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa as ‘Omicron’. This comes after the WHO held a meeting to discuss the newly identified COVID-19 variant.

Meanwhile, India A players are in Bloemfontein for the ongoing series against South Africa A.