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CAPE TOWN, Dec 7 (Reuters) – England’s one-day international series against South Africa has been postponed amid concerns over players’ mental and physical health, Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board said. (ECB). in a joint statement Monday.
By Nick Said
The announcement comes after players were subjected to a series of COVID-19 scares with potentially five cases within the biosecure environment of teams in Cape Town, with one player from South Africa and two hotel employees confirmed positive.
Two members of the group from the England tour also have “unconfirmed positive results” that require further investigation, the ECB said on Sunday.
“The decision (to postpone the series) was taken jointly by the two Boards to guarantee the health and mental and physical well-being of the players of both teams,” the statement added.
“The CSA and the ECB will now work together to determine when the three-game series, which is part of the ICC Men’s Super League of Cricket, can take place in the future.”
Games of more than 50 were scheduled to begin last Friday, and the final game of the series was scheduled for Wednesday.
The news will be a massive financial blow for Cricket South Africa and also casts doubt on its ability to host planned future tours, with Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia set to play in the country in the coming months.
MENTAL HEALTH
“Concern about the impact of recent events on the mental health of everyone involved is not something that we, as the CSA or the ECB, take lightly, and the decision to postpone the tour is the most responsible course of action. and reasonable for us, “said the acting head of the CSA. Executive Kugandrie Govender said.
“I would like to thank the ECB for the continued positive relations, and we look forward to hosting the England men’s team in the near future.”
ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison echoed his thoughts.
“We were concerned about the potential impact that recent developments could have on the well-being of the touring group, so after consulting with Cricket South Africa, we have made the joint decision to postpone the remaining matches of this Series, in the best interest of the well-being of the players, ”said Harrison.
CricInfo reported Monday that England had been accused by officials of the Western Province Cricket Association of using unauthorized nets within the biosecure environment to practice in Newlands on Thursday.
But the ECB denied wrongdoing, saying they were given permission to use the nets and that a security cordon had been installed around them.
The teams managed to play a three-game Twenty20 series before the ODI games, which England won 3-0. (Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Toby Chopra and Ken Ferris)
