South Africa cricket chief claims ECB’s decision to pull out of their ODI tour in 2020 cost millions

The ECB have been criticised by their South African counterparts for abandoning a tour two years ago without offering compensation ahead of the rescheduled one-day series which begins tomorrow. 

Cricket South Africa chief executive Pholetski Moseki told Sportsmail that England’s decision to leave South Africa without playing three one-day internationals in December 2020 had cost them millions of pounds in ticket and hospitality sales, with the ECB only offering to cover the costs of their hotel accommodation rather than provide any compensation.

Eoin Morgan’s side took the dramatic decision to fly home without starting the one-day series two years ago due to a loss of faith in South African’s Covid-19 protocols after five cases were recorded in three days including two amongst the tourists, although it soon transpired that those two were false positives. 

Cricket South Africa chief executive Pholetski Moseki revealed England’s decision to pull out of their ODI tour in 2020 on medical grounds cost them millions of pounds

Eoin Morgan’s side pulled out of the tour after losing faith in South Africa’s Covid-19 protocols

The series has been rescheduled which has enabled CSA to salvage a £1.5million TV rights fee from host broadcaster SuperSport, but they will not recoup other losses and were offered limited assistance by the ECB.

To compound South Africa’s financial problems after recording losses of over £10m in each of the last two years the new series will take place at smaller grounds in Bloemfontein and Kimberley rather than Newlands in Cape Town, the venue for all three matches two years ago. 

India also cancelled a Test and one-day tour to South Africa following the emergence of the Omicron variant in 2021 and those matches have not been rescheduled.

Moseki explained how the ECB failed to provide any compensation for their withdrawal

The rearranged three-match ODI series begins on Friday, with the first game in Bloemfontein

‘The England cancellation us a few million pounds, which was unfortunate,’ Moseki said. ‘The ECB offered to pay for the hotels and other logistical costs, but there was no compensation for TV rights or ticket sales.

‘We will never recoup that money, but at least we’ve found some space to play the matches, even at smaller venues. India also cancelled and they are not coming at all, which has cost us around £20m. Australia are coming to play a one-day series, but not the Test matches that were lost. It’s very frustrating.

‘These are big games for us as we need to win to qualify for the World Cup. It’s not ideal to be playing England in these games, but being at home will hopefully count for something.’