The emergence of a new coronavirus variant in South Africa
has raised concerns over India’s upcoming tour to the country. South Africa are
scheduled to host India for a full tour – including three Tests, three ODIs and
four T20Is – starting December 17.

Four venues – Johannesburg, Centurion, Paarl
and Cape Town – will host those matches over a period of nearly seven weeks. An
India A team is currently in South Africa for three unofficial Test matches,
the first of which is currently underway in Bloemfontein.

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With COVID cases on the rise in the northern
part of the country, at least two venues could be vulnerable to the spread of
the new variant. There are also changes slated for the quarantine rules for
players in the coming days.

BCCI officials have said that they will not be
able to determine their next steps until they get a detailed picture from Cricket
South Africa about the actual COVID-19 situation in the country.

“Look, till we get a detailed picture of the
ground situation from Cricket South Africa (CSA), we will not be able to tell
our next step. As per the current plan, the Indian team is supposed to leave
either on December 8 or 9 just after the New Zealand series gets over in Mumbai,”
a BCCI official told PTI.

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Meanwhile, NDTV quoted a BCCI official saying
that the board is waiting for the central government’s decision before taking a
final call on whether to go ahead with the tour or not. The source also said
that the BCCI may retain a few players who are already in South Africa with the
India A squad.

The new coronavirus variant – B.1.1.529 – has alarmed
scientists across the globe because of the mutations in its spike protein,
which makes it more resistant to vaccines and gives its increased transmissibility.