The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to decide the fate of India’s tour of South Africa when it meets in Kolkata for the 90 Annual General Meeting on Saturday.
While several sources in the Board have indicated that they are in regular conversations with Cricket South Africa and the government, there is a high chance of the tour getting delayed. The heavily-mutated Omicron variant of COVID-19 was identified last month in South Africa, and cases have spiked in the country significantly over the last 24 hours. While several countries have imposed travel restrictions to South Africa, the Indian players, too, are awaiting clarity.
Even though the series is not part of the Annual General Meeting’s original agenda, it can be brought up while discussing the Indian team’s Future Tours Programme (Point ‘T’ in the Board’s 24-point agenda).
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The Indian team is scheduled to depart for South Africa on the night of December 8, but so far, the national selection committee hasn’t even announced the squads, indicating that the tour is most likely to be shortened.
The Test series is scheduled to begin on December 17. The three-match series will be followed by as many ODIs and T20Is.
According to the agenda, which has been sent to the State associations, there would be discussions on the senior men’s team's performance in the T20 World Cup in the UAE and matters related to the National Cricket Academy would also be deliberated on.
While the contract renewal for the selectors will be up for discussion, the appointment of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) staff - V. V. S. Laxman, Troy Cooley and others - will be officially approved.
Ombudsman to be appointed
The Board will also appoint an Ombudsman and Ethics Officer. The Board has been without an Ombudsman since June this year after Justice (retired) D. K. Jain’s term expired. According to points ‘I’ and ‘J’ in the agenda, the Ombudsman will be appointed and also the Cricket and Standing Committees will be appointed.
Patel, Majumdar set to be re-elected unopposed
It is understood that Brijesh Patel and Khairul Jamal Majumdar will be re-elected unopposed as the members of the Indian Premier League Governing Council, while Pragyan Ojha will continue as player's representative.
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