India tour of South Africa likely to be delayed by a week

The emergence of Omicron variant of COVID-19 has threatened to disrupt the normal lives yet again across the world. The variant, first detected by South African scientists, is told to be much more dangerous and measures are being taken in a lot of countries to make sure it doesn't spread.

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Team India is also set to tour South Africa for three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is but it is under threat. As of now, the tour isn't postponed and the BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA) are keeping a tab on the happenings. However, Indian Express has now reported that the tour is likely to be postponed by a week.

If it happens, it will definitely have its implications on the schedule of the tour thanks to extremely packed scheduling in international cricket. Team India was set to leave for the rainbow nation on December 8 or 9 via a chartered flight but now their departure has been delayed as well.

The squads across all three formats for the tour was also supposed to be picked soon after the first Test against New Zealand. But even that meeting was deferred with BCCI awaiting the government clearance to travel South Africa.

The Indian team had clearly refused to play the fifth and final Test against England on their tour to UK earlier this year when there was a COVID scare in their camp. With COVID threat largely looming yet again, it remains to be seen if the tour goes ahead. As of now, it is likely to be deferred for one week.