Oz-NZ tours postponed due to pandemic travel clampdown

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.”

Meanwhile, New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson, who was placed under 24-hour isolation amid fears of COVID-19, has been cleared after testing negative.

Ferguson was quarantined after he reported a sore throat following the first ODI of the now-postponed Chappell Hadlee series. The 28-year-old cricketer will fly to New Zealand from Sydney on Sunday.

“Homeward bound. lockie Ferguson has also been cleared to fly and will return to New Zealand tomorrow,” New Zealand Cricket confirmed in a statement on Saturday.

The first ODI of the three-match series was played behind closed doors in an empty Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday which the hosts had won by 71 runs. The teams were to play the second and third ODI on March 15 and 20, respectively which were cancelled after the New Zealand government imposed travel restrictions.

Earlier, Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson was also tested for coronavirus, after suffering from a sore throat on Thursday. That saw him being left out of the squad for Friday’s game but the test was negative.

Agencies