South Africa on Tuesday appreciated India for continuing their A matches despite Omicron COVID-19 scare. It also promised a “full bio-secure environment” when Virat Kohli and company tour  for a highly-anticipated series next month. 

A new COVID-19 variant emerged in South Africa. The WHO on Friday identified it as a ‘variant of concern’. Several countries, including the United States and Israel, imposed restrictions for travellers coming from African countries. 

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However, the BCCI has not called off the India A tour yet. Priyank Panchal’s men will start their second unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bloemfontein on Tuesday. 

“India’s decision to show solidarity by choosing to continue with the tour of the Indian ‘A’ Team stands in contrast with a number of countries who have decided to close their borders and to restrict travel from Southern Africa,” the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), which is the country’s foreign ministry, stated.

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The Indian senior side is set to tour South Africa for three Test matches, as many ODIs and four T20Is starting December 17. The Men in Blue will land there by December 9. 

“South Africa will take all precautions necessary to ensure the health and safety of the Indian teams. A full Bio-secure environment will be established around both the South African and Indian ‘A’ Teams as well as the two National Teams,” the foreign ministry added. 

The ministry said that the South African government has expressed its appreciation to the BCCI for allowing the tour to continue and “for not letting travel restrictions negatively impact on international sports.”

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“The tour of the Indian National Team marks the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s readmission to international cricket.” In 1991, India had become the first country to host a South African team after the country was banned from international cricket in 1970 by the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to the then South African government’s apartheid policy.

“The anniversary will be celebrated by a commemorative event that will take place on January 2, 2022 in Cape Town. This event will also serve to highlight the strong ties between South Africa and India, which is once again demonstrated by the tour of the two Indian teams,” the ministry statement read.

BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal said India’s tour of South Africa remains on schedule provided the situation doesn’t aggravate in the rainbow nation after a new COVID-19 variant was detected there.

The first India-South Africa Test will be played at Johannesburg, followed by the second match at Centurion (December 26) and the third match at Cape Town (January 3).