Gibbs and Boje to tour India after all?

One sight the Indians are waiting to enjoy: Herschelle Gibbs in full flow © Getty Images

Ray Mali, the president of the South African cricket board, has indicated that Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje will be available to tour India later this year. It had been speculated earlier that Gibbs and Boje would give the tour a miss following the worry that they could be questioned by the Indian police with regard to the match-fixing scandal that had erupted on South Africa's last tour to India.

Mali, speaking to the Pakistani newspaper, The News, said: "Both will certainly make the tour to India. We can not disclose at this juncture what we are negotiating with the Indian cricket board but I can guarantee you that both will be available for the tour."

It has reportedly been suggested that the two cricketers are sent a day prior to the Test accompanied by a high commissioner's official, which would presumable bestow some kind of diplomatic immunity upon them. There are also likely to be private discussions between the South African and Indian boards, and between the Indian board and their sports ministry, aimed at sorting the matter out. It is, thus, fairly likely that Graeme Smith will not have to search for a new opening partner for this important series, which South Africa will be defending.

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