In March, Thiruvanathapuram is going to host the women’s ODI and T20I series between India and South Africa.
Despite the fact that the installations are yet to be concluded, it is perceived that the groups will play five ODIs are three T20Is, all at the Sports Hub, starting on March 7. These matches will be the arrival of the Indian women’s team to the cricket field after the Covid-induced break of about one year.
The joint-secretary of BCCI and Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) office-bearers Jayesh George had a meeting with the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayam last week asking for permission to conduct the matches adhering to Covid-19 restrictions.
Sajan Varghese, KCA president told TOI, “The government has agreed to let us host matches at the Sports Hub in a bio-secure environment. The Sports Hub has been used as a Covid first line treatment center till now. We will now have to sanitize the whole venue and make other necessary arrangements. The Pitches and the ground have been maintained well despite the Covid situations. So that won’t be a concern.”
“We will be needing nearly 100 rooms to accommodate the players, support staff, match officials, telecast squad etc.. for the duration of the tour. They are likely to be put up in one of the hotels in Kovalam,” Sajan added.
The Indian cricket team has not played an international match since their T20 World Cup last defeat to Australia in Melbourne last March. Their last ODI was in November 2019. Aside from the Women’s T20 Championship held as a component of the 2020 IPL in UAE, Indian players have had barely any competitive cricket since the lockdown started in March. Meanwhile South Africa are coming off the back of ODI and T20I series against West Indies in 2019 December.
