South Africa’s limited-overs captain Temba Bavuma said he has full confidence in the bio-security protocols laid out by the country’s cricket board (CSA) ahead of India’s tour later this month.

Sport in South Africa began to shut down on Friday following the emergence of Omicron, a new coronavirus variant, with travel bans and restrictions on flights leaving rugby teams and golfers scrambling to leave the country.

South Africa are set to host India in a three-Test series starting in Johannesburg on December 17 followed by three ODIs and four T20Is. Bavuma on Wednesday said: “I’m confident that our BSEs (Bio-Security Environments) are of the highest safety standards.

“Playing cricket in a BSE was a massive challenge for everyone involved in the game ... CSA has to be commended for the way that they have gone about the BSEs.”

Test skipper Dean Elgar said that despite the mental toll of being in a bubble, the players had accepted the need for strict protocols. “It takes a toll on a player mentally and yet this team continues to produce good results and make progress.

“That’s something that I personally don’t think is being spoken about enough,” Elgar said.