Omicron effect: Virat Kohli and Indian Cricket Team awaits clarity on South Africa tour

Virat Kohli: ‘Absolute clarity’ on South Africa tour ‘within a day or two or pretty soon’

The newly formed COVID-variant Omicron has been reported in India as well, just a few days after being found in South Africa, even as governments around the world are rushing to stop the spread. Two cases of the new Covid-19 variant, were detected in Karnataka, making them the first infections from the new strain in India.

As per the scheduled plans, the Indian team will start their Test series in South Africa on December 17, for which they will have to leave India just after the end of this ongoing series. But if we look at the situation in South Africa, it is cautious with the new variant of Covid-19, Omicron, bringing a rise in daily positive cases, especially in the Gauteng province of South Africa where India is scheduled to play the first two of the three Tests.

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The Indian test skipper, Virat Kohli attended the pre-match press conference for the second and final Test of the series against New Zealand on December 7. “We are not playing in normal times anyway. So there is a lot of planning that is involved, a lot of preparation that is involved in terms of understanding exactly what is going to go on. There are players who are not part of the group right now who will be entering quarantine to join the team bubble to fly in a charter”, said Virat Kohli in the presser.

“Those kinds of things you want to seek clarity as soon as possible. So we have spoken to all the senior members of the squad. Obviously, Rahul bhai [Dravid, the coach] has initiated a conversation within the group, which is very important.”, added Virat Kohli.

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Virat Kohli, who is making a comeback to the side after a short break, was seen batting in the nets.
Virat Kohli, who is making a comeback to the side after a short break, was seen batting in the nets.

The Indian team is focused on the present consignment, the second test match in Mumbai, reiterated Virat Kohli. “Our focus from the Test match will not shift regardless, but also you want to have clarity and you want to be in a situation where you know exactly what is going on. We have been talking to the board, and we are pretty confident that within a day or two or pretty soon we will have absolute clarity as to what is going on.” said Virat Kohli.

Dhananjaya de Silva’s 153* puts Sri Lanka in command vs West Indies

Dhananjaya de Silva posted an unbeaten ton to put hosts back in the driving seat in the second Test against the West Indies in Gale. De Silva and Lasith Embuldeniya built an unbeaten 107 runs partnership for the ninth wicket as Sri Lanka secure a lead of 279-run by the end of the Day.

Dhananjaya de Silva celebrates his hundred
Dhananjaya de Silva celebrates his hundred vs West Indies

Earlier on day 3, West Indies posted 253 runs and took a 49-run first-innings lead in response to hosts 204 runs in the first innings. West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (72) was the saviour being the top-scorer for the team in the first innings. While on the other side, Ramesh Mendis took 6 wickets to bring his Sri Lanka back in the game.

Brief Score at Stumps day 4:

Sri Lanka : First Innings 204/10 (Prathum Nissanka 73, Veerasammy Permaul 5/35) Second Innings 328/8 (De Silva 153*, Prathum Nissanka 66; Veerasammy Permaul 3/100) lead West Indies : First Innings 253/10 ( Braithwaite 72; Ramesh Mendis 6/70) by 279 runs.

Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim and Hasan Ali left out from Pakistan’s squad for West Indies T20Is

Pakistan will host West Indies for three T20Is and three ODIs from December 13 to 22 in Karachi. The T20I matches will count towards the ICC T20I rankings, while the ODIs will be part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim and Hasan Ali are left out of the squad for the upcoming T20I against West Indies.

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Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Hasan Ali have all been left out of Pakistan's 15-man squad for the upcoming T20I series against West Indies at home.
Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Hasan Ali have all been left out of Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the upcoming T20I series against West Indies at home.

“As we have been playing T20Is since October and now have a pretty settled and balanced side, we have decided to reduce the number of players to 15. As such, we have not included Imad Wasim, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik,” Mohammad Wasim, the PCB chief selector, said in a statement.

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Pakistan T20I squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir.

Abu Dhabi T10 League Match Results – December 2

Northern Warriors vs Bangla Tigers

Bangla Tigers 119/1 in 10 overs (Hazratullah Zazai 55*; Imran Tahir 1-29) beat Northern Warriors 89/6 in 10 overs (Umair Ali 39*; Tom Hartley 2-12) by 30 runs. Player of the Match: Hazratullah Zazai.

Read here : Abu Dhabi T10 League Match Results – December 1

Team Abu Dhabi vs Delhi Bulls

Delhi Bulls 135/5 in 10 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 69; Sheldon Cottrell 1-20) beat Team Abu Dhabi 86/8 in 10 overs (Liam Livingstone 29; Adil Rashid 3-15, Dominic Drakes 3-15) by 49 runs. Player of the Match: Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

By Abhishek Pandey

Non-Aspiring future engineer having many aspirations in life. A lover of cricket and football, an admirer of the GOATs in both games. Solving the jigsaw puzzles of life in my own way to find the treasure of peace. There is only one quote that keeps me going- 'There is no way for being happy, being happy is the only way.'