Reports: BCCI delays India's squad announcement for South Africa tour

India are due to tour South Africa in December-January. The tour comprises three Tests, three ODIs, and four T20Is. The series is however in some serious doubt as the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron has swept the country. The Women’s World Cup Qualifiers and the South Africa vs Netherlands ODI series got cancelled because of the same.

The BCCI are also awaiting confirmation from the government to tour South Africa. The Indian selection panel has also not announced the squad for the series. According to a report in the Times of India, the selectors were due to meet after the conclusion of the Kanpur Test to pick the squad. However, no announcement has been made regarding the same as of yet. Also, the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, and KL Rahul, who are not part of the Test series, had to serve eight-day quarantine before flying to South Africa but the players are yet to receive any clear communication from the BCCI.

Earlier, the South Africa foreign ministry had assured that the Indian team will be provided with a safe bio-secure environment. “South Africa will take all precautions necessary to ensure the health and safety of the Indian teams. A full bio-secure environment will be established around both the South African and Indian ‘A’ teams as well as the two national teams,” the statement read.

The tour starts on December 17 and as per BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, the tour is still on. Ganguly said they are monitoring the situation and confirmation regarding the tour going ahead or not will be out soon.