New Delhi | The first and highly anticipated Test between India and South Africa kicking off at Centurion on December 26 will be played sans spectators as the host country’s cricket board Cricket South Africa (CSA) is not selling tickets in view of the emergence of the new Coronavirus variant Omicron.
Only some suite holders and delegates will be able to watch the match live though current COVID-19 induced restrictions implemented by the government.
“We acknowledge the interest expressed by the fans and other stakeholders on being able to return to stadiums and want to assure all cricket fans that this decision was not taken lightly, but was instead taken in the best interest of the game and in the interest of the health and safety of all patrons,"Pholetsi Moseki, CSA Acting Chief Executive Officer said in a statement.
The series is taking place amid the rising threat of COVID-19 following the emergence of the Omicron variant last month. The country has seen a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in the past few weeks.
The tour itself was earlier in serious doubt because of the prevailing situation but the Boards of both the countries agreed to go ahead with it.
On Monday (December 20), Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced that Mzansi Super League (MSL) has been called off due to COVID-19 fears.
The Indian squad, who arrived here on December 16 (Thursday), are staying in a resort (Irene Lodge) which is entirely booked for them by CSA to ensure that a strict bio-bubble is maintained throughout the series.
The third Test will be played in Cape Town from January 11.
The three-match Test series will form part of the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.
India's Test vice-captain Rohit Sharma has suffered a left hamstring injury during a net session in Mumbai on Sunday and has been ruled out of the test tour to South Africa.
Gujarat’s opening batter Priyank Panchal, who recently featured in the India A team tour of South Africa, has been drafted into the Test squad. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named KL Rahul as Rohit Sharma's replacement as vice-captain of the Indian team for the Test series.
India's Test squad for South Africa series: Virat Kohli (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Priyank Panchal, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Md. Siraj.
