BCCI dump T20Is, India to play ODIs and Tests on South Africa tour

Amidst the doubts over India's tour of South Africa due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the BCCI have modified the schedule of the highly anticipated series. The teams will now play the Test and ODI series but the T20Is have been postponed for now.

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"We are going to South Africa and that's confirmed," a senior BCCI official, was quoted by Deccan Chronical.

The tour is set to kick off on December 17, with the first Test. However, there might be a minor tweak as the team's departure could be delayed.

The series was in jeopardy as the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron was on a steady rise in South Africa. However, India A team is already in South Africa and the BCCI seem to be satisfied with the players' safety. Earlier, the South Africa health ministry had also promised a safe bio-bubble for the Indian players. As per reports, the team will fly to South Africa via chartered flight and enter the bio bubble. Since it will be a bubble to bubble transfer, the players won't be required to serve hard quarantine.

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"The information we received is that the bio-bubble created by CSA is safe and secured. Also there hasn't been a lot of data available as of now as to how severe and detrimental it could be. Also we have not received any communication from the government on not going ahead with the tour.

"The team will enter the bubble shortly and travel by a charter flight. Even if there is a delay, it will be bubble to bubble transfer and hence no hard quarantine will be required," the source said.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has laid out strict rules for travellers from South Africa thus it will be interesting to see if the Indian players get some exemption upon their return from the rainbow nation.