India Tour of South-Africa – Indian Team Selections? Indian team is scheduled to travel to South Africa on December 9th. But with only a week to go neither the selectors have met, nor the team has been selected or announced for the tour. Reason, BCCI is yet to get clearance for the tour from Government of India & for now the selection committee is on hold – Follow India Tour of South Africa LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
India Tour of South-Africa: Sourav Ganguly says, We’ve time to…
Why the team has not been announced? South Africa has been identified as ‘at-risk country’ after the emergence of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus. The Government of India hasn’t cleared the tour as yet and the permissions are still awaited. Until or unless the same is not secured, Indian team cannot leave for South Africa.
Earlier the selection committee meeting was planned after the Kanpur test but now if the clearance from the government is secured, the selectors will meet during the 2nd test in Mumbai.
Just few days ago, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur stated that BCCI should seek permission from the Government of India before giving a green signal to India tour of South Africa.
“In such situations, every board be it BCCI or any other, should take permission from the Government of India. The government will take a decision when it gets the application from them (BCCI).”
India Tour of South Africa: Pending clearance from the government, BCCI puts selection meeting on hold: Follow LIVE Updates
India Tour of South-Africa: Players doesn’t know Itineary: InsideSport also spoke to some of the members of Indian test squad who were still unsure about the itineary of the tour.
Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul and other test hopefuls were earlier asked to report in Mumbai for a short camp before flying to South Africa on December 8th or 9th.
But now they are unaware about the situation.
Meanwhile BCCI President & other officials are still confident that tour is going ahead as scheduled.
Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday said India’s tour remains on schedule and they’re keeping a close watch on the situation surrounding the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant.
“The tour is on as things stand till now. We still have time to decide. The first Test is scheduled from December 17. We will ponder about it,” Ganguly told reporters on the sidelines of a promotional event.
“Players’ security and health has always been BCCI’s first priority, we will do everything possible for this. We will see what happens in the days to come.”
On the tour, India play three Tests, three ODIs and four T20s.
Shardul Thakur not to go to South Africa to play India A Tour match
India Tour of South-Africa – Meanwhile as the clearance from the government stays pending, the BCCI has already cancelled the plan to send pacer Shardul Thakur to play for India A. Thakur was scheduled to fly on 1st December but he was informed on Wednesday that his trip will not go ahead – instead he has been asked to join the senior team camp in Mumbai.
Thakur was supposed to play the last four-day game against South Africa A at Bloemfontein from December 6.
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