Sri Lanka tour to continue despite South Africa blockade

Sri Lanka’s series of tests in South Africa will continue despite the country plunging into the lockdown at midnight on Monday. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a series of new restrictions to combat the rising rate of Covid-19 infection, including a ban on alcohol, a stricter curfew, a ban on social gatherings, and the closure of rivers, beaches and parks in hotspot areas.

But the government said that “sports, artistic and cultural activities, including professional and non-professional matches, by recognized sports bodies are allowed”, provided that “only journalists, radio, television equipment, security personnel , emergency medical services and necessary employees employed by the venue owners … are allowed on the … match venue “, and that” only the required number of players, match officials, support staff are allowed and medical equipment required for the place. ”

The CSA interim board said Monday that “the new restrictions will not affect the … currently ongoing match at … Centurion,” which reaches its fourth day on Tuesday. The second test will begin at the Wanderers on January 3, and a board spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that it will continue as planned.

South Africa recorded 14,796 Covid-19 cases on Christmas Day alone. A month earlier, on November 25, only 3,250 had tested positive. The country passed a million cases of the virus this week.