Bad News For CSA As BCCI Confirms India Not To Tour South Africa For 3 T20 Games:
This news would hit very hard on Cricket South Africa (CSA). InsideSport has learned from its sources in India ‘s Board of Cricket Control (BCCI) that Virat Kohli ‘s India team will not fly to South Africa in the month of August for the 3 T20 games.CSA was heavily betting on this 3 match series to help their extremely fragile financial condition, but the Indian board chose not to tour South Africa for the 3 games that were not even part of the bilateral FTP.
“Indeed, we decided in August to not tour South Africa. No official announcement is expected in this regard because this tour was never part of our accepted FTP. CSA asked us, so we thought about supporting them, but in the current circumstances where there is scope for fitting in a tour that never existed, “one of the officials of the BCCI told a leading sports website.
“When the Indian tour of South Africa was cancelled due to coronavirus, we had discussions that we will make an effort to tour South Africa if there is any possibility. But we have not made any promise to Cricket South Africa about touring in August at any stage, “BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal also made it clear a few days ago that the tour is not a priority.
It should also be noted that the BCCI has also cancelled the tours to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in the last couple of days due to the Covid19 pandemic. The Indian National Cricket Team is yet to begin preparation and under these conditions, India will not be able to fly anytime soon to South Africa or anywhere else.
CSA Was Banking On This Tournament:
“For us, the big due date is end of August.” – Dr. Jacques Faul, CSA’s Acting CEO made this comment to stress the significance for the home team of India’s South Africa tour. Moreover, Faul had indicated that if India does not tour, CSA would find itself in big financial trouble.
“We haven’t lost content yet but it’s $10 m if India doesn’t come here, so that’s R180 m wasted. You then have to see how your sponsors are paying, or not paying. I still think our trouble is in the mail. It’s going to be hard to manage than “Faul said.
Why The Three Series Match Was Important For CSA:
Reason 1 – The tour was never part of the Future Tour (FTP) programme. The tour was initially set up by Cricket Graeme Smith’s newly named Manager and acting CEO Jacques Faul on a recent Jan-Feb month trip to India. The tour has been weaved into BCCI so it can support the dwindling finances of CSA.
Reason 2 – A Leading sports website has heard reliably that Cricket South Africa could crack a broadcast alliance with Star India for the Indian Sub-Continent territories at the back of this tour.
Reason 3 – CEO Faul has publicly acknowledged that CSA will gain R180-R195 million (USD 10-11 million) via this trip. According to Faul, the international public demand for matches involving India means each T20 could generate between R60 – R65 ($3 to 3.5) million for the coffers of CSA.
“For us, that’s the big one, because if India doesn’t come millions will be lost because trouble begins,” CSA CEO Jacques Faul announced a month ago.
Now with BCCI deciding not to tour South Africa for the 3 game series, the financial troubles for Cricket South Africa are actually starting.
