The first ODI between South Africa and England in Cape Town has been canceled, less than an hour before the draw.
ESPNcricinfo understands that the postponement is related to the positive tests for Covid-19 in the South African camp, amid suggestions that protocols were violated during the T20I series.
All players and support staff will undergo another round of testing on Friday afternoon, with the hope of starting the series on Sunday.
A CSA statement said: “This decision is the result of a Proteas team player testing positive for Covid-19 after the last round of scheduled testing of the teams on Thursday before the ODIs.
“In the interests of the safety and well-being of both teams, the match officials and everyone involved in the match, CSA Acting Director General Kugandrie Govender as well as ECB Director General Tom Harrison agreed to postpone the first until Sunday “.
England had left their team’s hotel, but returned shortly after the news.
CSA and the ECB now hope to host all three games on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. The first game will take place in Paarl, with the second and third games under lights at Newlands in Cape Town.
Kugandrie Govender, CSA’s Acting CEO, confirmed the news to ESPNcricinfo. “Doctors on both sides have told us that it is a perceived risk and not a real risk, but both together have decided that we prefer that the players do not go out on the field if there is some kind of risk,” he said. said. “Everyone will be tested again today and there is a 24-hour window to get results.”
When asked what would happen if there were more positive cases, Govender said the board would seek further medical advice, but insisted that the infected player had not come into contact with anyone else.
The Western Cape, where Cape Town and Paarl are located, has seen a resurgence of Covid-19 cases in recent days, and as of Thursday, the region had 10,000 active cases.
More to follow …
.
