'Tragedies like these put life in perspective' - VVS Laxman throws light on the postponement of India-South Africa ODI series

The entire world- especially the sports arena- has come to a standstill with the rising threat of the pandemic that is the novel coronavirus. The virus has already claimed more than 4000 lives and has proliferated in more than 80 countries. In the wake of the escalating situation, most of the sporting events around the world have either been called-off or postponed.

As far as cricket is concerned, a whole host of rubbers including Australia Women tour of South Africa, England Test tour of Sri Lanka, Road Safety World series, Asia XI vs World XI T20Is in Bangladesh and the ODI series between Australia-New Zealand and India-South Africa. Earlier, India-South Africa was supposed to be played inside closed doors but in the wake of the escalating situation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India decided to call-off the rubber.

Commenting on the developments, former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman has written in Times of India column that the move to call off the games is tough but a sensible one, given the gravity of the situation.

“The postponement of the remaining two One-Day Internationals between India and South Africa was inevitable, given the circumstances. The coronavirus pandemic is gradually bringing life to a standstill across the world, and as is unfortunately normally the case, it is tragedies such as these that put life in perspective” Laxman wrote.

Laxman lauds BCCI and CSA for taking the ‘right decision’ of postponing the series

The first ODI of the three-match series was washed out in Dharamsala and it was decided that the remaining two games will be played behind closed doors. However, both BCCI and CSA understood the gravity of the situation brilliantly and did the right thing by postponing to a later date, wrote Laxman.

“After initially announcing that the Lucknow and Kolkata matches would be played behind closed doors, the Board of Control for Cricket in India [BBC] and Cricket South Africa acted in the best interest of all stakeholders of our great game and announced the rescheduling of the two matches left after Thursday’s first ODI in Dharamsala was washed out without a ball being bowled,” Laxman added.

Meanwhile, the Indian Premier League has also been postponed till April 15th after the Indian government placed restrictions on issuing visas for foreign internationals.