The India tour of South Africa for all format series has come under serious concern following the detection of a new variant, Omicron, of coronavirus. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is constantly keeping its conversation on with the South African Cricket Board relating the tour and its schedule to defer it by a week.
The sources close to BCCI say that the Indian board has asked its South African counterpart to delay the tour by a week owing to the fear of a new coronavirus variant in several countries including South Africa.
“We might request CSA to postpone the series by a week and will then declare the schedule,” top BCCI sources said on Thursday afternoon.
India and South Africa are scheduled to play three test matches, three ODIs and four T20Is in the tour which spans over a month. The tour starts on December 17 with a test series in Johannesburg.
As of now, the BCCI hasn’t completely pulled the plug for the tour, however, the reports suggest that the cricket board is soon going to have clarity over the tour. Team India was scheduled to board a charter flight on December 9, but the decision has been put on hold following the ranging danger of covid.
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The selection of India’s squad for the South Africa tour is also put on hold. The Indian selectors were earlier scheduled to meet after the completion of the first test, however, the lack of clarity over BCCI’s decision has deferred it as well.
BCCI’s request to reduce three matches test series:
The top BCCI official also said that the BCCI is likely to initiate talks with Cricket South Africa (CSA) to reduce the test matches to two while the white ball fixtures remain the same.
Furthermore, if CSA agrees to BCCI’s terms to reduce the test series by a test match, the Indian cricket board will possibly chalk down an agreement to play at least five T20I matches next year with South Africa.
India tour of South Africa 2021 Complete Schedule:
Three Matches Test Series Schedule:
| Day/Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
| Dec 17, Fri – Dec 21, Tue | 1st Test – South Africa vs India | The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg | 1:30 PM |
| Dec 26, Sun – Dec 30, Thu | 2nd Test – South Africa vs India | SuperSport Park, Centurion | 1:30 PM |
| Jan 03, Mon – Jan 07, Fri | 3rd Test – South Africa vs India | Newlands, Cape Town | 1:30 PM |
Three Matches ODI Series Schedule:
| Day/Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
| Jan 11, Tue | 1st ODI – South Africa vs India | Boland Park, Paarl | 2:00 PM |
| Jan 14, Fri | 2nd ODI – South Africa vs India | Newlands, Cape Town | 2:00 PM |
| Jan 16, Sun | 3rd ODI – South Africa vs India | Newlands, Cape Town | 2:00 PM |
Four Matches T20I Series Schedule:
| Day/Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
| Jan 19, Wed | 1st T20I – South Africa vs India | Newlands, Cape Town | 7:30 PM |
| Jan 21, Fri | 2nd T20I – South Africa vs India | Newlands, Cape Town | 7:30 PM |
| Jan 23, Sun | 3rd T20I – South Africa vs India | Boland Park, Paarl | 7:30 PM |
| Jan 26, Wed | 4th T20I – South Africa vs India | Boland Park, Paarl | 7:30 PM |
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