South Africa hit by coronavirus chaos with three players forced into isolation after one positive test just eight days before first T20 against England
- Nearly 50 Covid-19 tests were taken after the squads arrived in Cape Town
- South Africa then confirmed three members were isolating after one positive
- The other two members who are isolating were deemed to be close contacts
- The Proteas face England in three Twenty20 internationals and three ODIs
South Africa have been rocked ahead of their white-ball matches against England after three players were forced into isolation after a positive coronavirus test for one of them.
Nearly 50 Covid-19 tests were conducted after the two squads entered a bio-secure base in Cape Town earlier this week.
But the hosts have now confirmed three members of their team will be isolating after one person contracted the virus, while the other two were deemed as being close contacts.
South Africa have confirmed three members are isolating ahead of their series with England
All three members involved remain unnamed but are isolating after tests taken in Cape Town
‘One player has returned a positive test result and two players were considered close contacts based on the risk assessment undertaken by the medical team,’ Cricket South Africa (CSA) said in a statement on Wednesday.
‘All three players have been placed in immediate isolation in Cape Town as part of the COVID-19 protocols. While all players are asymptomatic, CSA’s medical team will monitor them to ensure their health and well-being.’
All three members, who currently remain unnamed, are asymptomatic.
The Proteas have not named any replacements in their squad but two new players will join the group before intra-squad warm-ups this weekend.
Eoin Morgan’s men face Quinton de Kock’s side for three Twenty20 internationals first
Three Twenty20 internationals and the same number of one-day internationals will make up England’s tour to South Africa, with the tour beginning at Newlands next Friday.
The white-ball trip will see emphasis put on the three Twenty20 matches that precede the three ODIs as England begin their preparations for next October’s short-form World Cup in India.
Eoin Morgan’s men will be at full-strength for the Twenty20 matches, with Ben Stokes returning after his compassionate leave, but they will then rest three of the players who spent most time in bio-secure bubbles last summer in Stokes, Jofra Archer and Sam Curran.
It represents the beginning of England’s preparations for next October’s T20 World Cup