The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put Shardul Thakur’s participation in the India ‘A’ tour to South Africa on hold amidst the alarming bells over the heavily mutated Omicron COVID-19 variant.
According to a report published in The Indian Express, Shardul has been asked to join the senior team camp before the upcoming trip to South Africa.
Shardul was supposed to depart for the rainbow nation via Dubai in a few days but it is learnt that the Indian board didn’t want to take any risk, especially with the fear of the new Coronavirus strain.
Thakur was supposed to feature in the third and final unofficial Test against South Africa ‘A’ in Bloemfontein from December 6. He was reportedly set to undergo three-day quarantine before joining the India ‘A’ team bubble.
Meanwhile, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal has confirmed that the remaining India ‘A’ matches will go ahead as scheduled.
“The India A games will be played as per schedule at the moment. The players are in a bio-bubble and we have been constantly monitoring the situation, while maintaining regular contact with Cricket South Africa (CSA). The matches will be played behind closed doors, but as of now, they will be held as per the itinerary. Even the Indian government hasn’t sent any advisory (to us), so the India A tour is on at the moment,” Dhumal told The Indian Express.
After the unofficial Test series, the India ‘A’ team is due to play three one-dayers and four T20s in South Africa.
The A tour has been organized ahead of the senior team's series against South Africa. Team India are scheduled to play 3 Tests, 3 ODIs, and 4 T20Is on the upcoming tour to South Africa from December 17 to January 26. They are due to leave for the rainbow nation on December 9.
