South Africa calls off all cricket over Coronavirus spread

Two of the country’s main domestic competitions remained incomplete. The franchise one-day cup had reached the semi-final stage, while two rounds remained in the four-day franchise competition.

Cricket South Africa announced on Monday that all cricket activities had been called off for the next 60 days following the declaration of a state of disaster in the country because of the coronavirus situation.

South Africa cricket team players arrive at NSCBI Aiport, in Kolkata. (PTI)

The announcement came less than four weeks before the scheduled end of the season.

Two of the country’s main domestic competitions remained incomplete. The franchise one-day cup had reached the semi-final stage, while two rounds remained in the four-day franchise competition.

A scheduled tour by the Australian women’s team had already been called off and an Over-50 men’s World Cup tournament ended abruptly midway through the third round of fixtures on Sunday.

The South African men’s team were on their way home from India after the cancellation of the remaining two matches of a one-day series. A planned arrival media conference on Wednesday was cancelled.

Cricket South Africa held a meeting on Monday following the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday of a state of a disaster during which he announced a raft of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including a ban on gatherings of more than 100 people.