Dutch tour in doubt

“A decision on the continuation of the Netherlands series will follow in the next 24 to 48 hours.” - CSA on Friday.

Telford Vice | Cape Town

THE Netherlands could cut short their men’s ODI series with South Africa in light of fears over the spread of a new variant of Covid-19 in the country. If that happens it would be the fourth tour to South Africa in less than a year to be impacted by the pandemic.

Identified on Tuesday, the B.1.1.529 variant spreads faster than those that have gone before and carries more mutations, leading to fears that it could adversely affect the efficacy of vaccines. Initial indications were that the Dutch had decided to go home after meeting with CSA on Friday, even as their team were at Centurion playing the first of three scheduled ODIs.

With several countries having tightened restrictions for travellers from southern Africa in light of the detection of the new variant, the players would likely have to spend time in quarantine on their return to the Netherlands. Several members of the squad play and live in the UK, whose government have banned non-residents from the region from entering the country and instituted a compulsory, self-funded hotel quarantine if they arrive after 4am on Sunday.

The Dutch may struggle to make the journey, what with flights being cancelled because of the prevalence of the new variant. They may yet have to remain in South Africa for what would have been the duration of the series, which was set to end on Wednesday.

A CSA release on Friday afternoon left the issue in the balance: “Both boards can confirm that following updated information, it is highly unlikely that the visiting team will be able to fly out of South Africa over the weekend. The KNCB [Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond] is reviewing all of its options, while prioritising the physical and mental well-being of its players. A decision on the continuation of the series will follow in the next 24 to 48 hours, while all flight options are being considered.”

India A are also in South Africa to play three four-day matches in Bloemfontein, but it seems that visit is not under threat. “After the outbreak, a medical team from CSA had a meeting with our representatives over here,” PTI quoted an India A official as saying. “We were told that there is nothing to worry since the spike in cases is far away from Bloemfontein.”

The South Africans will be desperate for that to remain the case: India’s senior side are due to tour in December and January, a venture that would pump millions of dollars into cash-strapped CSA’s coffers.

“Look, till we get a detailed picture of the ground situation from CSA, we will not be able to tell our next step,” PTI quoted a BCCI official as saying. “As per the current plan the Indian team is supposed to leave either on December 8 or 9 just after the New Zealand series gets over in Mumbai.”

England abandoned their men’s white-ball series in South Africa in December with half the six matches unplayed in the wake of positive tests for coronavirus at their hotel, and in February Australia postponed a Test series scheduled for March and April over pandemic fears. Australia’s women’s team followed suit, calling off a white-ball tour in March 10 days before the first match was to have been played.

First published by Cricbuzz.