The England tour of South Africa has been canceled following the Covid-19 outbreak between the camps and the staff of both teams at their hotel. All three ODIs have been officially postponed, with the possibility that they can be played at a later date.
The decision was made after the series opening ODI was delayed three times in four days as it was originally scheduled for Friday in Newlands, before unsuccessful attempts to host games in Paarl on Sunday and again in Newlands on Monday. .
With England due to fly home on a chartered flight on Thursday, and with the team still awaiting ratification of two unconfirmed positive tests within the camp, CSA was hoping to be able to host consecutive ODIs on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, news that the tour would be abandoned out of consideration for the “mental and physical health and well-being of the players on both teams” came Monday afternoon.
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The announcement was made through a joint statement by CSA and the ECB, although ESPNcricinfo understands that the decision to withdraw came at the behest of the English board.
Earlier on Monday, a spokesperson for the England team responded to suggestions that players had violated Covid protocols during an unauthorized practice session in Newlands on the eve of the first scheduled ODI, claiming they had been given permission to establish a security cordon around the nets, despite its proximity to a construction site, due to the “unacceptable” standards of the parcels that had been provided to them in Newlands Plaza.
The CEOs of both boards cited the well-being of the players as a primary concern in the decision to shorten the tour, and it was understood that the players were uneasy about recent developments and the fact that the biosecurity bubble had burst.
The three-game ODI series is part of the qualification process for the 2023 World Cup through the new ICC Super League, and the boards of directors have indicated their intention to host the series at a later date. With England touring Bangladesh, Pakistan, Australia and the West Indies next winter, in addition to the T20 World Cup in India, it will be a challenge to find a suitable window.
“The decision was made jointly by the two boards to ensure the health and mental and physical well-being of the players of both teams,” the statement said. “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.”
Kugandrie Govender, CSA Acting Chief Executive Officer, said: “Concern about the mental health impact of recent events on everyone involved is not something that we, as the CSA or the ECB, take lightly and decide to postpone. touring is the most responsible and reasonable course of action for us.
“I would like to thank the ECB for the continued positive relations and we look forward to welcoming the England team in the near future.”
Tom Harrison, Executive Director of the ECB, said: “We have always held that the well-being of our players and leadership is paramount. We were concerned about the potential impact that recent developments could have on the well-being of the touring group, and so on after In consultation with Cricket South Africa we have made the joint decision to postpone the remaining matches of this series, in [the] the best interest of the well-being of the players.
“I would like to thank Cricket South Africa for their support and understanding in this matter and I look forward to working with them to identify a time when we can play these games again in the future.”
The series postponement will cast further doubt on the viability of South Africa’s scheduled home series against Sri Lanka, Australia and Pakistan this season, especially with the number of infections increasing by 43% in the Western Cape last week.
It is understood that CSA will lose about $ 2 million in broadcast revenue from the postponement of the three ODIs, and any additional cancellation would have significant financial ramifications.
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