“The protocols we proposed to CA were unprecedented,” said CSA’s chief medical officer
Cricket South Africa are “extremely disappointed” and “frustrated” at Cricket Australia’s decision to pull out of their Test tour in March, saying they couldn’t have done more to appease the touring team.
“We are extremely disappointed by the decision of CA,” Graeme Smith, CSA’s Director of Cricket, said in a strongly-worded statement. “CSA has been working tirelessly in recent weeks to ensure that we meet every single expectation of CA.
“This was set to be our longest tour in a bio-secure environment comprising a three-match Test series that was scheduled to begin with Australia’s arrival later in the month. So to be informed about the CA decision at the eleventh hour is frustrating.”
Smith was intricately involved in organising the Australia tour in which CSA were willing to put in place their strictest restrictions of the summer. That included a longer quarantine period than South Africa’s players have had to deal with before, quarantine for other members of staff including hotel staff and transport staff, purchasing an Australian track-and-trace system and obtaining government-sanctioned VIP treatment for the touring party.
“The protocols we proposed to CA were unprecedented,” Dr Shuaib Manjra, CSA’s chief medical officer said. “Firstly, we had agreed that our own Proteas team would enter the BSE 14 days prior to the arrival of the Australian team, thus altering their planning during the current tour of Pakistan.”
More to follow…
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent
Source: ESPN Crickinfo