India-South Africa ODI series called off

■ EVEN IF IPL STARTS on April 15, it is expected to happen behind closed doors without the fans.

■ IF IT STARTS, it could be a 40-day competition as the Future Tours Programme of other international teams will make it virtually impossible to stretch it beyond that point.

Sydney, March 13: During the first ODI of the three-match series between Australia and New Zealand, skippers Aaron Finch and Kane Williamson ditched handshakes, and opted for elbow taps amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Both skippers had a laugh after that.

When the toss happened, both skippers did shake hands, however, immediately after, both Finch and Williamson laughed it

Twitter off after doing so.

“A handshake out of habit, and then a quick joke, between the skippers #AUSvNZ,” cricket.com.au tweeted.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, most people are avoiding handshakes and are opting for fists bumps or ‘Namaste’.

The entire series between both countries will be played behind closed doors due to coronavirus outbreak.

— PTI

New Delhi, March 13: The two remaining IndiaSouth Africa ODIs in Lucknow and Kolkata were on Friday called off owing to the COVID-19 threat after the visiting players “expressed unwillingness” to continue in view of the rising positive cases in the host country.

This is only the second time in three decades that an international cricket series in India has been called off midway, the last being in 2014 by the West Indies team over a pay dispute with its Board. The game in Lucknow was scheduled to be held on Sunday, while the Kolkata ODI was meant to be on March 18.

“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,” a top BCCI official said.

“The South African team was unwilling to take any further part in the series due to rising number of positive cases in India. The players seemed to be in panic

Cricket South Africa will visit India at a later date to play three ODIs. The BCCI-CSA will jointly work out the revised schedule. — JAY SHAH, Board secretary

mode and wanted to go back home at the earliest,” another Board official revealed on conditions on anonymity.

The BCCI later issued a statement to say that the series will be rescheduled at a later date. “Cricket South Africa will visit India at a later date to play three One-day Internationals. The BCCICSA will jointly work out the revised schedule,” Board Secretary Jay Shah said.

“The South African team will come to Delhi and leave by taking the earliest available flight,” he added.

—

PTI