After the IPL, the ongoing bilateral series between India and South Africa is the next event to face the axe controlled by the relentless Coronavirus. The series has been called off with the South Africans set to head home on the first available flight.
The increased threat of the virus forced the BCCI to take a decision where the second and third ODIs which were slated to take place at Lucknow and Kolkata respectively, would have been played under closed doors.
Here is what a top BCCI official had to comment on the decision:
“With the IPL being postponed, it only made sense that at this point of time, this series is also called off. The country is facing a serious pandemic,”
The BCCI furthermore stated that the series would commence later this year with diligent rescheduling between the two boards. Secretary Jay Shah said:
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) along with Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Friday announced to reschedule the ongoing ODI series in view of the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) outbreak.
“Cricket South Africa will visit India at a later date to play three One-day Internationals. The BCCI-CSA will jointly work out the revised schedule,”
“The South African team will come to Delhi and leave by taking the earliest available flight,”
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju claimed that financial implications are not bigger than health issues.
The sides had already made their way to Lucknow for the ODI on Sunday after the first ODI at Dharamshala had been washed out without a ball being bowled.
Earlier today it was announced that the upcoming edition IPL would be postponed to April 15. Meanwhile, the first ODI between Australia and New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground was played in front of an empty stadium.
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