The Boxing Day Test match between South Africa and India and the subsequent three-Test series is to be played without fans, according to reports.
Organisers of the first Test at Centurion Park have not sold any tickets according to Rapport, meaning no spectators will be present except for a few suite holders and delegates. This is despite current COVID-19 restrictions in South Africa allowing for 2,000 spectators.
According to Rapport, Cricket South Africa (CSA) acting chief executive Pholetsi Moseki said a final decision on spectators would be reached this week.
Imperial Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg is due to hold the second Test and the venue posted an announcement on Twitter regarding the sale of tickets for the match.
The statement said: “Announcement – please note, no announcement has been made regarding ticket sales for the upcoming Test match at the #ImperialWanderers Stadium between South Africa and India.
“At this point, it isn’t clear if fans will be allowed. We will make further announcements in due course.”
🎟 Announcement 🎟
Please note, no announcement has been made regarding ticket sales for the upcoming Test match at the #ImperialWanderers Stadium between 🇿🇦 and 🇮🇳.
At this point, it isn’t clear if fans will be allowed. We will make further announcements in due course. pic.twitter.com/bI11Y4zh7Z
— Imperial Wanderers Stadium (@WanderersZA) December 17, 2021
CSA also announced today (Monday) that the Mzansi Super League (MSL) which was scheduled for February 2022, has been called off due to the pandemic and the emergence of the Omicron variant.
The MSL was designed to act as a premium global T20 competition to rival the likes of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia.
Moseki said: “The decision to cancel the 2021 edition of the MSL is meant to allow CSA and its strategic partners to revamp and review the tournament post-COVID-19 to regain its market and commercial position. For its purposes, the MSL will again be replaced by a domestic CSA T20 Challenge, featuring the eight Division 1 teams and this tournament will take place in February 2022.”
Image: Mudassir Ali on Unsplash