Coronavirus pandemic: Australia-New Zealand Men's ODI series to be played with no spectators; Women's tour to South Africa cancelled

Melbourne: Cricket Australia says a three-match one-day international series between Australia and New Zealand will be played with no spectators due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The first men’s match is ongoing at the Sydney Cricket Ground where the second ODI will be played at the same venue on Sunday while the third game will be held on 20 March in Hobart.

Australia women’s limited-overs tour of South Africa, starting on 22 March, was on Friday, suspended due to the dreaded novel coronavirus pandemic, Cricket Australia (CA) said.

“Australia’s three-match One-Day International and three-match Twenty20 International Qantas tour of South Africa has been suspended until further notice,” CA said in a media statement.

“Cricket Australia will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation at home and overseas before making a decision on Australian women’s international matches beyond the tour of South Africa.”

The ODI matches were due to be played in Durban (22 March), Pietermaritzburg (25 March) and East London (28 March). The T20s were scheduled for East London (31 March) and Benoni (3 and 4 April).

On Thursday, a spectator who attended the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final between India and Australia in Melbourne on March 8 was tested positive for novel coronavirus.

The coronavirus outbreak, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday, has led to more than 4,000 deaths globally.

Several sporting events across the globe have been postponed or cancelled in the wake of the virus outbreak, while some events are played behind closed doors.

Cricket Australia said the remaining games of the domestic first-class Sheffield Shield would go ahead.

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