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Quinton de Kock and Eoin Morgan
Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images
Cricket South Africa Medical Director Dr. shuaib manjra says England have legitimate concerns about the safety of the biosecurity bubble after a third Proteas player tested positive for coronavirus.
The opening ODI of the three-game series was postponed at the last minute in Newlands on Friday following the positive result.
Given the security surrounding the bubble, it is unknown how the positive results have been obtained, but Dr Shuaib Manjra says England’s concerns are valid.
“There is clearly cause for concern and England has expressed concern. England is questioning their confidence in the biosecure environment and rightly so,” Manjra said.
“He has been a player who has tested positive in the last week, who contracted the virus in the last week, they have cause for concern and we respect that concern.
“We have met with the English medical teams and planned a path. We will re-evaluate all our players and hotel staff tomorrow, which is Saturday.
“We will await the results and plan a course of action. Then on the Tuesday before the final ODI on Wednesday, we will test the team again.”
The decision was then made not to host the match as planned on Friday, but the teams still hope to play the three-game series in its entirety, with the first game now scheduled for Sunday in Paarl before returning for matches in Ciudad. from the Cape on Monday and Wednesday. .
That plan clearly hinges on a new series of tests, and it is highly likely that any additional confirmed cases will put the series at risk.
Ashley giles, managing director of England’s men’s cricket, issued a short statement after the postponement declaring himself “hopeful” that the matches could be organized successfully.
“On behalf of the UK tour group and the ECB, I would like to thank Cricket South Africa for their collaborative approach in postponing today’s international,” he said.
“Our number one priority is the health and safety of the England team and the management group, and the right decision was made after discussions between the two boards and the respective medical teams.
“The England game will remain at its base in Cape Town on Friday and Saturday and we are hopeful that the three-game series will be played before we depart next Thursday, starting with the match in Paarl on Sunday.”
The Proteas had two players test positive before the T20 series, which saw England shut out the Proteas 3-0. Two other players were asked to self-quarantine after being classified as “close contacts.”
The rest of the team returned in full health before the T20s, allowing those three games to go ahead as planned.
Speaking to the PA news agency at the start of the tour, England’s head coach Chris Silverwood addressed the possibility of new cases emerging.
“Obviously we have to take care of our camp, our main objective is to make sure that everything in our camp is in order and that we observe the rules, regulations and protocols in front of us,” Silverwood said.
“Hopefully that keeps us safe. Doctors direct me, but the ideal scenario is that no one understands.”
– TEAMtalk Media
