India likely to leave for South Africa on 16 December

There were speculations that India would not travel to South Africa amid the Omicron scare but the BCCI has put an end to all the rumours and gave a green signal to the Indian tour of South Africa. India Today understands that the Indian team, after assembling in Mumbai on Sunday, will leave for South Africa on a charter flight on December 16.

After completing a series win over New Zealand in the Tests, India cricketers are on a well-deserved break. However, the players and support staff will be back in another bio-bubble in Mumbai.

The Indian team which lands in South Africa will remain inside a bio-bubble until the Test series ends, while the members of the ODI series will have to spend an additional eight days inside a restricted environment.

BCCI had recently named an 18-member squad for the three-Test matches, starting with the Boxing Day encounter in Centurion, whereas the ODI squad is likely to be named in the next couple of days.

The first world championship Test will start at SuperSport Park in Centurion on December 26.

The second Test will be played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg from January 3-7 with the final Test scheduled for Newlands in Cape Town from January 11-15.

The Test series will be followed by three one-day internationals, the first two in Paarl on January 19 and 21 and the third at Newlands on January 23.

The one-day matches will be part of the International Cricket Council’s World Cup Super League.

With South Africa hit by travel restrictions following the discovery of the fast-spreading Omicron variant of coronavirus, CSA announced last week the tour will be played under strict bio-secure conditions.