[ad_1]
All players and hotel staff will be retested for coronavirus on Saturday to determine if the three-game series against England can begin on Sunday, with the remaining ODIs from the series scheduled for Monday and Wednesday.
Last Updated: 04/12/20 2:35 pm
A COVID-19 sign on the gates of Newlands, where the first ODI was supposed to take place on Friday
The South African team doctor says England is right to be concerned about the safety of the biosecurity bubble in which they find the Proteas after a local team member tested positive for coronavirus.
A three-game one-day international series between the teams was due to begin in Newlands on Friday, but the first match had to be postponed at the last minute after the positive result.
Given the security surrounding the bubble, it is unknown how the positive result came out, but Dr Shuaib Manjra says England’s concerns are valid.
South African backroom staff pack after 1st ODI postponement
Dr Manjra said: “There is clearly cause for concern and England has expressed concern. England is questioning their confidence in the biosecure environment and rightly so.”
“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.
Empty bleachers and a postponement message on the Newlands screen
“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.”
Tight security measures mean players cannot get out of the bubble unless accompanied by an official, leaving Dr. Manjra with a job to determine the source of the positive test.
“I can categorically state that no player was able to leave the hotel environment, simply by virtue of the fact that there is security around and security will not allow a player to leave unless that player leaves in an officially assigned vehicle with an official driver , ” he said.
“There is a command center here run by the Claremont police force colonel and they strictly enforce the biobubble. They would not allow anyone to leave. I am basically saying that it is impossible to leave this bio-safe environment for any player or officer.”
England captain Eoin Morgan leaves the pitch with his teammate Joe Root
A pre-series round of testing was conducted to evaluate the squads, who are staying at the Vineyard Hotel near the Newlands field, and a Proteas player was found to have the virus.
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.
England will remain at their base in Cape Town on Friday and Saturday in the hope that the three-game series can begin on Sunday.
Watch the first game of the series between South Africa and England live on Sky Sports Cricket starting at 7:30 am on Sunday.
[ad_2]
