England’s Tour of South Africa on the verge of getting canceled?

England’s tour of South Africa is seriously doubtful after the South African Cricket Association has plummeted into chaos. South Africa is due to host England this month.

A lack of cooperation between the interim board and the member council might result in the cancellation of the tour. The English National Team is set to fly to South Africa this Monday and will be playing 3 T20's and 3 ODI's. However, the ongoing events in the CSA might put all of that into jeopardy.

Zak Yacoob, appointed by the Sports Minister of South Africa Nathi Mthetwa, was elected as the leader of the interim board on October 30. The CSA, comprising 12 presidents of the cricket council, failed to recognize the interim board, and boldly stated that they would be taking control, defying the orders of the current Sports Minister. Yacoob stated that the dispute might result in a disappointing end if the agreement is not resolved.

If the dispute among the two parties is not resolved, it is likely that the tour could be called off, as South Africa would not have a team to represent the country. Both the teams have been asked to rest in a bio-bubble at Vineyard Town in the country's capital. The players have been granted permission to go outdoors only when training or playing. All six matches will be conducted behind closed doors.

If things do not go as per plan, then the CSA would have to bear a loss of at least 4.2 million USD, owing to TV rights.

CSA’s deal with STAR likely to be impacted

The cancellation could also indirectly affect the deal CSA has made with STAR regarding rights for the Indian subcontinent. An agreement has been made between CSA and STAR which is worth 105 million USD for a duration of 4 years. An India-South Africa series has already been canceled in the past, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. With the England-South Africa tour looming above the CSA with dire uncertainty, it is likely that their deal with STAR could be affected inevitably.

There are, however, chances that the tour will not be canceled. CSA has managed not to conceal its finances. There is also the word from the English Cricket Board that this is business as usual for this tour. The series between England and South Africa is a six-ball white international tour and will start from 27 November.

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