Cricket South Africa (CSA) has shown great appreciation to Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa for allowing professional non-contact sport to resume under Alert Level 3.

Mthethwa announced the details of the regulation on Saturday morning as part of the government’s plans to ease the lockdown to level 3 on Monday.

As a result, cricket has been one of the key beneficiaries of the new regulations, which mainly occupies a non-contact and social distanced approach.

CSA ready to create bio-secure environment

CSA Acting CEO Jacques Faul expressed his delight on the announcement, saying it is a big boost to get the game of cricket up and running again.

‘We have been in regular contact with SRSA and the Minister and they have been very supportive of the game in these difficult times.

‘At this stage these regulations apply only to professional cricket and our next step will be to draw up a protocol covering the return to training and playing and submit it to SRSA for approval. I will immediately be calling a meeting of our Covid Steering Committee on Monday to get this process under way.

‘Both our national teams and our franchises will in due time be given the green light to return to training. I have already had discussions with the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) and I would like to stress that no player, coach, support staff or administrator will be forced to return to training if they are uncomfortable with it at this stage,’ commented Faul.

The announcement will also favour CSA’s plan to host India in a three-match T20 series in South Africa in August, which will expectedly be staged behind closed doors.

CSA, BCCI considering T20 series in August

Faul confirmed earlier in May that CSA and the BCCI had been in advanced talks to schedule the series, should both sets of governments allow it.