Future generation of South African players need the India series more than ever: Farhan Behardien

Former South African all-rounder Farhan Behardien hopes to see India tour his country next month despite growing concerns regarding the Nu SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1529 variant which has put the upcoming cricket contest in doubt.

India are scheduled to tour South Africa for 3 Tests, as many ODIs and 4 T20Is between December 17 and January 26. The senior national men’s team was set to depart for the Rainbow Nation right after the completion of the ongoing 2-Test series against New Zealand at home.

But now the top brass of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will in all likelihood hold a meeting on Saturday to decide on the fate of the tour.

“I hope the biggest cricket nation in the world tours our country next month!! The future generation of South African players need it more than ever!!” Behardien tweeted.

I hope the biggest cricket nation in the world tours our country next month!! The future generation of South African players need it more than ever!! #India

— Farhaan Behardien (@fudgie11) November 26, 2021

The World Health Organisation named it Omicron on Friday. Cases are on the rise in the northern part of South Africa and at least two venues for the Test series — Johannesburg and Pretoria (near Centurion) — could become vulnerable to the spread of the Omicron variant.

Scientists believe that the high number of spike mutations could make the new variant more resistant to vaccines, make it more transmissible and cause an increase in the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. The 36-year-old Behardien, who is a former T20 captain of the Proteas, also objected to the variant being identified as South African.

“Its not the ‘South African’ variant, it was detected here among other places in the world. In the famous words of Martin Van Jaarsveld, the great Titans player, WAKE UP!!! #OmicronVariant,” he tweeted.

Its not the ‘South African’ variant, it was detected here among other places in the world. In the famous words of Martin Van Jaarsveld, the great Titans player, WAKE UP!!! #OmicronVariant

— Farhaan Behardien (@fudgie11) November 27, 2021

The new variant has already taken its toll on sports here with reports emerging on Friday that the Netherlands have withdrawn from their ongoing ODI series in Centurion.

Cricket South Africa said a decision would be made only in the next two days as flight options for the tourists have been affected by the travel bans that have come into the effect due to the new variant.