Cricket South Africa urges ICC's intervention after Australia postpone South Africa tour

A miffed Cricket South Africa (CSA) has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) asking it to consider the repercussions faced by less wealthy cricket boards when scheduled tours are called off or postponed. The development comes after Australia postponed their tour of South Africa earlier this month. Cricket Australia had cited COVID-19 pandemic as the reason behind their decision.

International cricket started in South Africa in November when England visited the country for three T20Is and three ODIs. The T20I series was played as scheduled but the entire ODI series was later abandoned after reports of positive COVID-19 cases emerged. Few days later, South Africa successfully hosted Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series.

Australia, on the other hand, were supposed to depart for South Africa in late February for the three-match Test series. Last month, Cricket Australia had also named a 19-man Test squad for the tour before eventually deciding against visiting the African country. The postponement of the series is a major financial blow to CSA, which has already lost money after England pulled out of the ODI series.

CSA writes to ICC

In the wake of yet another financial setback arising because of Australia’s decision, CSA has urged the governing body of the game to intervene. In the letter, South Africa has termed Australia’s decision to pull out of the series “against the spirit of sportsmanship”, with implications for the credibility of the World Test Championship (WTC), according to ESPNCricinfo.

CSA has also raised concerns over Australia’s decision by stating that it would have a serious impact on the financial well-being of less-wealthy ICC members. The report further stated that the letter was not a formal complaint and the CSA wrote it to the ICC as a means of opening communication about finding the best possible outcome to maintain the international cricket schedule during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, CSA and CA have not discussed an alternative date for the series. Following Australia’s decision to postpone, the ICC confirmed New Zealand’s passage to the final of the World Test Championship (WTC). India, Australia, and England are the other three teams that will be fighting it out to battle against New Zealand in the summit clash.