South Africa squad departs from India after Coronavirus forces cancellation of ODI series

In a first, the South Africa cricket team left India without playing a ball after the coronavirus pandemic saw the three-match ODI series it was supposed to play here cancelled. On Tuesday, the Proteas led by Quinton de Kock left for Dubai after spending a day at a city hotel in Kolkata where the third game was supposed to be played on Wednesday.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) took the necessary precautions to ensure the visiting team’s safe return home. The series ended 0-0 after the first match was cancelled because of rain and the rest two owing to the pandemic.

The Proteas chose Kolkata, which is yet to see its first coronavirus case, over New Delhi where one life has already been lost, after the series was rescheduled and the players and the support staff members stayed in Lucknow where the second match was to be held on March 15.

South Africa squad chooses Kolkata over New Delhi

The Quinton de Kock-led South African side chose ‘safest city’ Kolkata over New Delhi after the three-match ODI series was rescheduled and the players and the support staff stayed put in Lucknow where the second match was slated to be held last week. The entire outfit reached Kolkata on Monday where it was received by CAB President Avishek Dalmiya, Secretary Snehasish Ganguly and Joint Secretary Debabrata Das.

“They have left for Dubai safely this morning. From there, they will leave for their respective destinations. They were very pleased with CAB’s arrangements and precautionary measures,” India Today cited agencies as quoting Dalmiya.

The rooms of all the visiting players and support staff members were sanitised with the CAB liaison manager and medical team accompanying the drive. They were equipped with special masks and sanitiser.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India called off the series because of the coronavirus fears as did many other boards around the world and said it will work with Cricket South Africa (CSA) to reschedule the series.

The CSA also announced on Monday that it has scrapped all forms of cricket amid the pandemic. The CAB also decided to shut the office for the next few days like the BCCI and Mumbai Cricket Association as a precautionary measure.