The inability of nine-member interim board of Cricket South Africa (CSA) in handling the Bio-secure bubble has not only led the cancellation of the ongoing England series, but it has affected the possibility of upcoming Sri Lanka tour as well. Even though the Sri lanka Cricket (SLC) has not announced it officially as yet, Cricket Age reliably learns that the tour is almost postponed.
Yesterday, England’s tour of South Africa was called off following the outbreak of Covid-19 among both teams’ camps and staff at their hotel. The decision came after the opening ODI of the series was pushed back three times in four days, having originally been scheduled to take place at Newlands on Friday, before failed attempts to stage games at Paarl on Sunday, and at Newlands again on Monday.
Sri Lanka are due to play South Africa in two Tests forming the ICC World Test Championship at Centurion from 26-30 December and at Johannesburg from 3-7 January. The team is due to leave for South Africa on the morning of 18 December at the end of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) taking place at Hambantota. However, following the latest development, the tour seems highly ‘unlikely’, as final call will be taken by tomorrow after talking to CSA.
“The latest developments have certainly raised questions over CSA ability in handling with the situation. The safety of players is our top most priority and we will not compromise with this. In this scenario, the tour is highly unlikely” a top SLC official told Cricket Age.
Since October, a nine-member interim board is running the CSA, after the entire board stepped down. After England tour called of yesterday, ECB director of cricket Ashley Giles raised serious Concerns over players’ security and health, alongside questions over Cricket South Africa’s bio-secure bubble that didn’t seem robust enough to keep the virus at bay.
“We were coming into a bio-secure environment and from very early on it appeared it wasn’t bio-secure,” Giles said.
“That raised the levels of anxiety. I think the South African doctor said he could understand our nervousness because of that. And he was right. There’s clearly concern when infection springs up in what is supposed to be a bio-secure environment.”
After the perfect mess by South Africa, the SLC has also decided to focus on England tour, as a realistic goal for resumption of International cricket in the country.
“The England team is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on January 4. So, realistically, it look a much safer option to resume International cricket with England, instead of going to South Africa and put our players under unnecessary risk” the top SLC official added.
