South Africa’s Director of Cricket Graeme Smith thanked Indian players and BCCI for showing faith in them and successfully completing the tour despite the surge in Covid-19 cases in the Rainbow nation.

A surge in Omicron cases in South Africa in December 2021 had put India’s tour in doubt. But BCCI dismissed doubts on India traveling to South Africa, although there were slight changes in the schedule, the tour was successful. 

Initially, both teams were slated to play Tests, ODIs and T20Is but the COVID-19 outbreak made cricket boards of both nations go ahead with only Test and ODI series. The tour was also postponed by a few days ahead of the scheduled start. 

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All the matches of the tour were played across different venues behind closed doors and not even a single COVID-19 case was found in the camps of both teams. India started the tour on high by beating the hosts in the first Test in Centurion. But nothing went their way after that, as they lost the next two Tests and were at the receiving end of 3-0 whitewash in ODIs. 

Taking to his official Twitter account CSA’s Director of Cricket Graeme Smith thanked BCCI for showing faith in them, saying that their commitment has set an example that a lot will follow. 

“Big thank you @BCCI@JayShah@SGanguly99 and the Indian players and management for the faith you showed in SA cricket’s ability to pull off a safe and successful tour. Your commitment at an uncertain time has set the example that a lot can follow,” Graeme Smith Tweeted. 

Notably, Australia pulled out of their tour to South Africa last year due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. England also left the Rainbow nation mid-way of their limited-over series in December 2020 due to the same reason. 

(PTI inputs)