Mark Boucher revealed on Thursday that he had been a victim of Covid-19 without knowing he had contracted the disease.
Boucher was speaking ahead of the Proteas’ limited-overs series against England, which starts with the first T20I at Newlands on November 27.
An unnamed Proteas player tested positive when the South Africans assembled Wednesday.
He and two others, with whom the infected player had close contact, have been separated from the rest of the squad and will stay in isolation while being monitored.
According to a statement from Cricket South Africa, all three were asymptomatic.
Boucher says he sympathises with the affected players.
The coach, who missed the Solidarity Cup match in July because he tested positive for the virus, explains: “Sitting alone in a room for six or seven days is very tough.
“I didn’t even know I had it. I felt a little down for one or two days. I had been throwing down to some players in the nets and felt some aches and pains.”
Boucher added that that in line with a call from President Cyril Ramaphosa for a period of mourning, he expected flags to be at half-mast during the first two matches in honour of victims of coronavirus and gender-based violence and it was possible that players would wear black armbands.
But he indicated that it was unlikely players would “take a knee” as they did before a three-team domestic match in July.