Lungi Ngidi tests positive for Covid-19, withdrawn from SA’s ODI series against Netherlands

Pacer
Junior
Dala
has
been
called
up
as
Ngidi’s
replacement,
Cricket
South
Africa
(CSA)
said
in
a
statement.

“Lungi
Ngidi
has
also
been
forced
to
withdraw
from
the
tour
after
testing
positive
for
COVID-19.
He
is
well
and
in
good
spirits
and
abiding
by
CSA’s
COVID-19
protocols,
in
line
with
government
regulations,”
the
CSA
said.

“The
Proteas
medical
team
will
keep
in
contact
with
him
to
ensure
his
physical
and
mental
well-being.
Junior
Dala
has
been
called
up
to
replace
him.”

The
25-year-old
Ngidi
has
not
played
for
South
Africa
since
the
Ireland
series
in
July.

He
missed
the
Sri
Lanka
tour
that
followed
in
September
for
personal
reasons,
and
was
included
in
the
T20
World
Cup
squad
but
did
not
play
a
game.

In
other
team
news,
seam
bowler
Lizaad
Williams
has
also
been
ruled
out
of
the
series
due
to
a
intercostal
muscle
strain.

“He
(Williams)
is
undergoing
treatment
and
will
continue
to
be
assessed.
No
replacement
has
been
named.”

Four
members
of
the
management
team
have
been
rested
following
back-to-back
tours,
including
the
recently
concluded
T20
World
Cup
and
living
in
bio-secure
environments.