For their journey back home from Lucknow, the South African cricketers have chosen "safest city" Kolkata as their stopover, from where they will return to their country via Dubai. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the world, the detour hardly matters to the concerned players.

Among many other sports events affected was the cancellation of the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa. Instead of New Delhi or Mumbai, the Proteas preferred to fly via the eastern metropolis as it is yet to record a single positive case for COVID-19. "They will land here tomorrow and will leave the next morning. Accordingly, the BCCI is trying to make arrangements closer to the airport," Cricket Association of Bengal president Avishek Dalmiya told PTI. "We have also briefed the chief minister and the chief secretary about the developments. We are also in constant touch with BCCI president regarding this matter."