Cricket Australia had called off the Proteas tour on the medical grounds.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding Cricket Australia’s last-minute cancellation of the Proteas tour, as the tensions between CSA and CA continue to rise over Australia’s decision to pull out of this month’s Test tour.
International cricket started in South Africa in November 2020 when they hosted England for three T20Is and three ODIs. However, the T20I series was played as scheduled but the entire ODI series was abandoned after the report of the COVID-19 cases emerged.
But a few days later, South Africa successfully hosted Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series and was scheduled to host Australia next in a three-match Test series in March and even CA named a 19-man Test squad for the tour, but called off the tour on medical grounds at the last minute.
Well now, CSA wrote to the ICC seeking intervention over CA’s decision to cancel the tour and financial help for struggling nations who have been facing financial setbacks after scheduled tours are called off or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ICC has also confirmed that it received the letter, where South Africa has termed Australia’s decision to pull out of the tour “against the spirit of sportsmanship” with implications for the credibility of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), according to ESPNCricinfo.
Notably, it is being reported that CSA had made at least six changes in plan, including “moved the goalposts and insisted on different rules” to ensure the Australians safely toured South Africa and even agreed to have the two teams stay at different venues, but despite all efforts, CA canceled the tour.
However, CSA has not lodged a formal complaint against CA, as it has written as a board member to have open communication about finding the best possible outcome to maintain the international cricket schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic so that the less wealthy cricket boards will not suffer most.
But, in the latter, the CSA has raised concerns that Australia’s decision will have a serious impact on the financial well-being of less-wealthy ICC board members.
Noteworthy, CSA and CA have not discussed an alternative date for the Test series following Australia’s decision to postpone the South Africa tour with the ICC later confirmed New Zealand as the first finalist of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).
The outcome of the ongoing India-England Test series will decide who will face New Zealand in the final at Lord’s later this year.
(With ANI Inputs)