Beuran Hendricks and Keegan Petersen withdrawn from South Africa squad ahead of Sri Lanka Test series

Both players didn’t enter the bubble after two positive tests were recorded in the South Africa camp last week

Beuran Hendricks and Keegan Petersen have been withdrawn from the South Africa squad ahead of their two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting on Boxing Day.

Both players didn’t enter the bubble after two positive tests were recorded in the South Africa camp last week.

The other 17 players tested negative on three occasions, making the environment bio-secure. It is understood that South Africa will not replace the pair ahead of the Boxing Day Test.

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South Africa can begin training as a full squad on December 23 after having smaller sessions to-date. It is believed that they are no longer confined to their rooms and can mix in communal spaces, adhering to social distancing protocols. They won’t come into contact with Sri Lanka who are in the same hotel and nobody is permitted to leave the venue except for travel to SuperSport Park and the Wanderers.

Stricter protocols come after the ODI series against England was postponed due to positive tests in the South Africa camp. Players were allowed to leave their hotel to play golf around the Western Cape province.

Three South Africa players tested positive for Covid-19 - one prior to the tour, one after entering the bubble and one following the T20 series. Two members of hotel staff also tested positive for the virus.

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