Cricket South Africa Director Graeme Smith reckons that every Proteas player who participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 felt secure while staying in the Bio-bubble created for the 14th edition of the league in India. Notably, IPL 2021 had to suspend until further notice on May 4 after four active players tested positive for coronavirus inside the bio-bubble. All South African players who took part in IPL 2021 have left for Johannesburg.
During a news conference, Graeme Smith said, “Having spoken to the players, they felt safe. They felt the BSE (Bio-Secure Environment) was a really good experience in India. They never felt at risk. But that’s the nature of what COVID brings. Sometimes you can do whatever you want but the BSE – as we”ve said to everyone – is never foolproof. When COVID is raging in your country there’s always a risk.”
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Smith also lauded the efforts of the BCCI to make sure that the departure of all the South African players become as safe as possible, who would be back home by Friday and undergo home quarantine.
Elaborating the same, Graem Smith said, “The duty of care (the BCCI has) shown in getting everyone home has been exemplary. “From our own players” perspective it’s been made slightly easier in that our borders aren’t closed and there’s still commercial travel available for them.”
South Africa has not been recording as many Covid-19 positive cases as India is recording, yet the Australian team had postponed its trip pointing at the health security risk of the players. Smith said that decision smacked of double standards.
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Explaining the same, as per the quotes in PTI, Graeme Smith said, “You see some of those players sitting there at the IPL and not making any noise. Having had the experience of things here you do see some things differently, and (you see) a version of double standards. It’s disappointing. I think CSA has put on 15 or 16 BSEs this season, and I don’t think enough has been made of the success that we’ve had.”
