Tupaki_Ramudu Posted December 6, 2013 Report Posted December 6, 2013 The status of the ongoing series between South Africa and India will be known later today after Cricket South Africa sought advice from the South African presidency following the death of the country's former president, Nelson Mandela. As things stand, all the series venues are preparing as though the matches will go on, but Mandela's death may yet have implications for ongoing events. "At the moment everything is in gear and ticking on, but we should have finality by the end of day," a source close to CSA told ESPNcricinfo. "We really don't know whether things will change at the moment." Mandela, who was 95, passed away on Thursday evening at around 08.50pm, and the news was announced by South African president Jacob Zuma close to midnight. Friday was declared a day of mourning, and Sunday - the scheduled date of the second ODI - will be a national day of prayer. From December 11 to 13 Mandela's body will lie in state in Pretoria - the third and final ODI is in Centurion on 11th - before his funeral on December 15 in Qunu, his hometown in the Eastern Cape. India's two-day tour match, ahead of the Tests, is due to start on December 14. Given the stature of the man South Africa is bidding farewell to, these fixtures could be affected.* CSA have already shown a willingness to put aside their own needs for that of Mandela. Earlier this year, they postponed their annual awards and key meetings regarding appointing a CEO when Mandela fell gravely ill in June. At the time, CSA said they felt it would be "inappropriate" to hold celebratory functions at a time of national concern. Whether that same sentiment will impact the current series remains to be seen. An insider believes it is unlikely too because of "the amount of money CSA will lose by cancelling matches". With the mood in country one of celebration of Mandela's life, rather than sadness, CSA have since said they will dedicate the remainder of the series to Mandela but have also sought the advice of the country's senior-most governmental department before making a final decision. :3D_Smiles_38: :3D_Smiles_38:
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