COVID-19 all clear for South African cricket team

CAPE TOWN: South Africa's limited-overs team have returned an all-clear after the third round of COVID-19 testing on the eve of their opening match against England at Newlands on Friday but have lost all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius to injury.

The two players who tested positive last week were not part of the tested group and remain in isolation and are being monitored, said a statement from Cricket South Africa. "They are progressing well and are in good health" it added, without naming them.

The fourth round of testing was conducted on Thursday with results expected later.

The possibility of infections in the South African camp at one stage threatened the six-match English tour. The two countries are playing three Twenty 20 international and three One-Day Internationals at Newlands and in Paarl.

It is definitely surprising because we were told that points are a matter of contention for the top two teams qualifying in World Test championships and now suddenly it has become percentage out of nowhere, so it is confusing and difficult to understand why," Kohli said during a video conference ahead of the first ODI against Australia.

"... if these things were explained to us from day one then it would have been easier to understand the reason why such a change has happened.

"But it happened out of nowhere and I think further questions need to be asked to the ICC to understand why this has been done and what are the reasons behind it."

With the raging COVID-19 pandemic leading to the cancellation of several bilateral series, the ICC said: "just under half of the World Test Championship matches have been played, with that estimated to rise to more than 85 percent by the end of the competition window."

According to current regulations, incomplete matches are treated as draws but after due deliberation, the ICC Cricket Committee, headed by Anil Kumble, recommended that the final WTC standings should be determined on the basis of matches played, which was approved by the Board.

Source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/covid-19-all-clear-for-south-african-cricket-team/articleshow/79430468.cms