Will Nelson Mandela`s demise affect India`s South Africa tour?

Zee Media Bureau

Johannesburg: India was playing its first match of the South African tour on Thursday, when the sad news came that the Nobel Peace laureate and South Africa`s first black president, Nelson Mandela, has died. Speculations are rife that after the demise of the iconic South African leader, India’s current tour of South Africa might be called off, however, there is no official announcement in this regard as yet. Mandela, a prominent political personality, hailed all over the world, died at his Johannesburg home surrounded by his family, after a long battle against lung infection. This tour has already suffered a lot due to the tussle between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) CEO Haroon Lorgat. Due to the spat, the much-hyped tour had already been shortened, consisting three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Test matches. But the clouds over the tour have become darker now after the demise of Nelson Mandela. CSA offered their first reaction over Twitter.

RIP Tata Mandela. It is because of you that a represented Proteas team can express their talent across the globe #mandela

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 5, 2013

Though in the first match, Indian team, that had won six ODI titles in a row, suffered a major blow as South Africa thrashed them by 141 runs in the first ODI match played at the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.