The Proteas team might avoid the handshakes during their tour to India, head coach Mark Boucher has shared the news as the number of reported positive coronavirus cases have been increasing day by day in the country. South Africa will play three ODIs against India which will begin from Thursday.
“With regards to handshakes and type of stuff that’s a concern, so it will probably be fine if we do the same if it comes to that. I think it’s a way to stop anything from happening to our guys,” Boucher told the media.
“I think it’s out of respect for players around you and not to pass on something that you might have.”
However, South Africa gave the nod for the tour only after their medical and security team permitted doing a risk assessment as well. Covid19 has become a concern for everyone across the globe and that’s what they have been briefed too which will be beneficial for them.
As far as the game is concerned, head coach Mark Boucher feels former skipper Faf du Plessis will play the key role. His experience of playing in Indian Premier League and international cricket in India will be helpful during the upcoming three-match One Day International series against India. The series will get underway in Dharamsala on February 12.
Du Plessis, who last featured in an ODI during the 2019 World Cup, had a rather forgettable T20I series against Australia, with scores of 24, 15 and 5 respectively. However, they have reached India on Monday morning and reached Dharamsala on Tuesday by a chartered flight.
Moreover, Mark Boucher feels with the inclusion of Du Plessis there will be some selection headaches as well, which is a good thing to have although. While South Africa faced a loss in the T20I series to Australia by 1-2, they thrashed the visitors by 3-0 in the ODIs, which will provide them with confidence going into the series against India. However, the former wicketkeeper-batsman said that Indian conditions will be tough to win for a visiting country.