Food poisoning to South Africa A players reschedules tri-series

Food poisoning to South Africa A players reschedules tri-series: Yesterday, 10 out of the 16 South African A players got hospitalized in Chennai after they suffered from food poisoning. Four South African players including Quinton de Kock were rushed to the hospital after the match against India A. De Kock had arrived just in time to play the match against Indian A on Sunday. And within 24 hours he was lying on the hospital bed due to the illness. Even before the match commenced as many as 6 Protea players were admitted in a local hospital at Chennai.

Things got worse from bad and there was a point when South Africa A’s video analyst Hendrikus Coertzen and India A’s Mandeep Singh had to field in as substitutes on the ground.

As a result of such events the South Africa A team management had requested Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a change in schedule as they were to play the Australia A side in M Chidambaram on Monday. The requested was duly accepted by BCCI and a result of it, the Indian A side who were scheduled to have a day off after yesterday’s match against South Africa A are playing against Australia A, today. Now, the South Africa A will taken on Australia A on Tuesday.

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A press release from CSA stated: “With half of the squad going down ill overnight South Africa was forced to play (against India A today) an ill- balanced starting XI that had only four frontline bowlers with the likes of Dean Elgar and Khaya Zondo to make up the rest of the overs”.

The release further said that: “Reeza Hendricks, Zondo and Mthokozisi Shezi were all on the sick list but had to play because there was nobody else available but all three had to be hospitalised during the course of the match. The same applied to De Kock who was hospitalised after the match.”

“South Africa A were due to play Australia A tomorrow but in the circumstances (10 in hospital) this match has been put back to Tuesday,” said CSA.

Earlier, India A had defeated the illness hit South Africa A side by 8 wickets on Sunday. Quinton De knock had amassed a brilliant century but it got outclassed as Indian openers Mayank Agarwal and Unmukt Chand put up a wonderful show upfront as they combined for a 219 run opening stand.