Positive feedback about the safety and security of the bio-bubble in Bloemfontein, where the India A cricketers are engaged in their unofficial Tests, helped ease the Team India players’ concern leading to the BCCI and Cricket South Africa agreeing to a revised itinerary.

At its 90th AGM in Calcutta on Saturday, the BCCI confirmed that the series will comprise three Tests and three ODIs, with the first Test starting on December 26. It has been decided that the four T20 Internationals will be played at a later date.

The Indians were originally scheduled to depart on December 9 but that will now be delayed by a week.
The venues for the series have not been finalised though sources told The Telegraph that the first Test will not be held in Durban, which has traditionally hosted the Boxing Day Test.

Centurion is the preferred choice for the opening Test while the second will be held in Johannesburg from January 3 and the third from January 12 in Cape Town.
The Newlands in Cape Town will also host the three ODIs.

Though Cape Town is known to host the New Year Test, it will be held at the Wanderers because of logistical and operational reasons — both Johannesburg and Centurion are an hour’s drive away.
According to the original schedule, the Tests were to start on December 17, 26 and January 3 in Johannesburg, Centurion and Cape Town respectively, followed by the three ODIs.

The CSA has promised to maintain the same standards, if not stricter norms, for bio-bubble security as has been witnessed during the A tour. All matches are also expected to be played under closed doors.

“With the Proteas men’s team having already participated in no less than eight international cricket Bubble Safe Environments (BSEs), CSA is pleased to announce that this tour will also take place under the strictest Covid-19 guidelines, as contained in the BSE protocols,” the media release stated.

“CSA is also pleased to confirm that the allocation of match venues will still be in respect of the BSEs and therefore the decision on the allocations will take into account the need for safer playing environments. CSA has instituted these world-class standards and measures to ensure that all players, staff and officials are protected within this environment. CSA’s main focus is to safeguard the cricket biosphere by managing strict entry standards and limited movement outside of its cordon. CSA will confirm the venues in the next 48 hours.”

The outbreak of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in South Africa had led to players expressing concern over the tour and initiated prolonged negotiations between the two boards.
“...we are not playing in normal times anyway, so there is a lot of planning involved, there is a lot of preparation that is involved in terms of understanding exactly what’s going to go on...” India captain Virat Kohli had said recently.

One of the worrying factors for the players has been the lack of clarity on their return to India. The Indian government has placed strict restrictions, including home quarantine, for those coming from South Africa and its neighbouring countries.

Since the players will be returning from a bio-bubble, the BCCI is trying to work out a solution with the government authorities concerned.

Northeast to benefit

Chairman Brijesh Patel and Mamon Majumdar of Meghalaya Cricket Association were re-inducted into the IPL governing council at the AGM on Saturday while Pragyan Ojha will continue as the representative of the Indian Cricketers’ Association.

The seven-member IPL governing council now consists of two office-bearers (secretary Jay Shah and treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal), CEO (Hemang Amin), one
representative from Cricketers’ Association (Ojha), a nominee of the CAG (CM Sane) and two members elected by the AGM (Patel and Majumdar).

As per the infrastructure development of the Northeast states, Puducherry, Bihar and Uttarakhand, the BCCI decided to allocate Rs 12.5 crore towards cricket operations for each of the states besides another Rs 10 crore as subsidy towards infrastructure development with stress on developing indoor facilities. The six Northeast states to benefit out of this scheme are Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Sikkim.

This will be applicable in the January to December cycle.

The AGM also ratified the decision to have VVS Laxman as head of cricket at the National Cricket Academy. It also approved five-day Tests for the women’s cricketers, which has so far been played over four days. The proposal will be placed before the ICC.
Among other decisions, the age limit for match officials and support staff has been increased to 65 from 60 years, subject to their fitness.