Due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, the world sports scenario is at a standstill. Because of the COVID-19 debacle, more than 3 lakh deaths have taken place worldwide. Due to the pandemic, there is currently a lot of uncertainty about the feasibility of all sports events.
In this time of crisis, India and South Africa agreed to play three T20Is in South Africa at the end of August, provided both country’s governments gave the green signal. The series will not be part of the Future Tours Program, and CSA Cricket Director Graeme Smith and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly negotiated the series.
The series was negotiated and finalized by two former national skippers at a time when both boards considered ways of initiating the series. The hosting of the series for South Africa would help the finances and holding series against India would yield profits at a time when the board is bracing for big losses.
“We spoke to them and we are committed to doing the three T20s,” Smith said on Thursday at a news conference.
“There’s a guess factor, nobody knows how things will be at the end of August. Yet we think that we are socially distanced and we should practice behind closed doors, “he said.
CSA hopes to reduce its losses with India
Although South African cricket has not yet cost a lot of coronavirus pandemic, long-term projects are at risk and, therefore, CSA would have a more stable financial position throughout the India series.
However, there are significant concerns ahead of the series, as both countries are currently lockdown in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In both countries, the rate of infection is now increasing. South Africa is preparing for a September conference, so hosting matches would be dreadful in August.
But acting CEO Jacques Faul said that the BCCI was willing at the end of summer to tour the rainbow country. As long as matches held before the end of the financial year, CSA would be able to curb some of its anticipated losses.
