India vs South Africa: Virat Kohli and Co touchdown in Lucknow wearing masks

IND vs SA: The first ODI of the three-match series was abandoned due to rain and both teams will be eager to take an unassailable lead in the upcoming clash.

The players of Indian cricket team touched down in Lucknow, wearing protective masks, ahead of the second ODI against South Africa, which was scheduled to be played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Sunday. But a latest report from news agency PTI citing BCCI official says that the series will be scrapped due to coronavirus fears. The first ODI of the three-match series was abandoned due to rain in Dharamsala and now both Lucknow, and Kolkata ODIs scheduled to take place on Sunday (March 15) and Wednesday (March 18), ODIs have reportedly been cancelled.

India captain Virat Kohli in Lucknow wearing a mask.(HT Photo)

While pictures of the players wearing masks flooded internet, skipper Yuzvendra Chahal himself uploaded one on his Twitter account. He was seen wearing a mask as a precautionary measure for coronavirus, which has been declared as a pandemic by World Health Organisation (WHO).  

“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 told PTI.The first ODI between the two sides in Dharamsala was washed out. Both the sides had reached Lucknow on Friday.

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

Earlier, an advisory from the sports ministry had ensured that the second and third ODIs will be played behind closed doors in the wake of the COVID-19.

The IPL was on Friday pushed to April 15 from its scheduled March 29 start.India has recorded more than 80 positive cases so far with the global infected count standing at over 100,000.

The death toll because of the virus has gone beyond 5,000 internationally.

(With PTI inputs)