In recent developments, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has declared that as many as seven of its people were infected with the deadly COVID-19 contagion after mass testing organized by the organization.
CSA conducted over 100 tests for the novel coronavirus throughout the country on its officials, administrators, contracted cricketers and affiliate staff.
The mass testing also included the franchise training squads which was assembled post-government announced that non-contact sport could resume in Level 3 of the nationwide lockdown.
“We were definitely going to have people testing positive. Having conducted over 100 tests, seven is actually quite low,” CSA’s acting CEO Jacques Faul told ‘Sport24’.
Moreover, the top-level CSA executive refrained from naming any of the cricketers who were tested positive for COVID-19.
“Our medical ethical protocol does not allow us to share info about people that have tested positive,” Faul said.
The highly infectious disease which has plagued the world currently, also contracted the likes of Mashrafe Mortaza, Shahid Afridi and Taufeeq Umar.
Recently, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that three internationals, Shadab Khan, Haider Ali and Haris Rauf were also found COVID-positive.
Last month, Solo Nqweni, a South African first-class cricketer, who was battling Guillain-Barre Syndrome, was also found out to be COVID-positive after testing.
Much like governments all around the world, the South African government also relaxed the restrictions imposed due to lockdown.
The ‘3T Cricket’ competition, i.e., Solidarity Cup, was part of the CSA’s effort for the resumption of cricket in the Rainbow Nation. In the tournament, three teams were slated to play in a single match at SuperSports Park in Centurion.
However, the tournament, which was scheduled for June 27, has now been postponed indefinitely by CSA, saying the conduct of the tournament needed more work at the present stage.
