Australia-nz tours postponed due to virus travel clampdown

MELBOURNE: Australia and New Zealand’s limited overs tours have been postponed in the wake of new travel restrictions announced by the New Zealand government on Saturday aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Saturday that everyone entering the country from midnight Sunday must self-isolate for 14 days in an effort to contain the outbreak.

More than 138,000 people have been infected globally and over 5,000 have died, according to a Reuters tally of government announcements.

The new restrictions meant New Zealand’s cricket team would head home from their current tour of Australia later on Saturday, the sport’s national federation said.

“This development also means the three-match T20I series scheduled for New Zealand cannot proceed as the mandatory self-isolation period would also apply to the Australian squad as soon as it crossed the border into New Zealand,” New Zealand Cricket said in a statement.

“NZC believes both these series can be replayed in their entirety at a later and more appropriate date.”

While the players were booked to fly out on Saturday, bowler Lockie Ferguson and two staff were remaining at the team’s Sydney hotel awaiting the result of Ferguson’s test for coronavirus, a team spokesman said.

NZC said earlier on Saturday that Ferguson had been placed in isolation at the team hotel for 24 hours in accordance with recommended health protocols.

Ferguson’s test result was due later on Saturday, and if cleared, he would return to New Zealand on Sunday morning along with the staff, the spokesman said.

If the test returns positive, Ferguson would be forced to serve out a mandatory quarantine period in Australia before returning, he added.

Australia beat New Zealand by 71 runs in the first ODI in front of 48,000 empty seats at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday as precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus hit home Down Under.

Australia paceman Kane Richardson was also quarantined after reporting a sore throat on Thursday but was cleared of the virus and able to rejoin team mates at the SCG on Friday.