Ind-SA ODIs Called Off
The two remaining ODIs between India and South Africa in Lucknow and Kolkata have been called off owing to the COVID-19 threat as the country's sports calendar continued to go haywire because of the global pandemic.
"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.
Premier League Suspended
The Football Association (FA) of England on Friday announced that all professional club football activities in the country have been suspended until April 3 at the earliest. This includes the Premier League, the lower tiers of football in the country that constitute the Football League and the FA Womens Super League and FA Womens Championship.
It also includes all cup competitions such as the FA Cup and the women's FA Cup along with junior competitions.
"The decision is being made purely on the number of cases requiring self-isolation and the impact on facilities. Given the steps being taken across clubs, there is no alternative but for today's action. However, all parties are committed at this time to trying to complete this season's domestic fixture programme and are liaising to establish appropriate options to do so," said the FA in its statement.
PSL's Overseas Players Returning Home
Nine foreign cricketers, including the English trio of Jason Roy, Alex Hales and James Vince, have decided to leave the Pakistan Super League and return home on Friday owing to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), however, said the PSL will continue as scheduled despite the withdrawal of the overseas players.
"What is paramount is we are giving options to all the players and support personnel to withdraw from the league if they want too as ensuring they feel comfortable remains top priority of the PCB," PCB CEO Wasim Khan said.
England players Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Tymal Mills, Liam Dawson, Liam Livingstone, Lewis Gregory, James Vince, West Indian Carlos Braithwaite, South African Rilee Roussouw and James Foster (Coach) will be returning home from the PSL, the Board said.
Richardson Returns Negative
Australian pacer Kane Richardson has tested negative for COVID-19, paving the way for his return to Australia's squad after being ruled out of the first ODI against New Zealand owing to a sore throat.
The right-arm pacer, who returned with the Australian team from South Africa earlier this week, had informed the medical staff of a sore throat on Thursday and was sent for a precautionary testing for the novel coronavirus.
The test results returned negative and he was on his way to the Sydney Cricket Ground, where the first ODI against New Zealand is taking place.
England Call Off SL Tour
The English Cricket Board decided to postpone their tour of Sri Lanka. The team is already in the country for over a week and were midway through a warm-up game when the board announced their decision.
"Due to the Covid-19 pandemic worsening globally, and after discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket, we have today made the decision to return our players to the UK and postpone the forthcoming Test series between Sri Lanka and England" the ECB said in a release.
England and Sri Lanka were scheduled to play a 2-Test series with matches starting 19 and 27 March.