ODI series between South Africa and England called off due to COVID-19 cases

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have decided to call off the entire three-match One-day series between the two cricketing nations after two members of the visiting contingent tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

After the T20I series, England and South Africa had to lock horns against each other in the first ODI on December 4. However, the match was rescheduled to December 6 at Boland Park in Paarl after one South African player had tested positive for Covid-19 hours before the match commenced.

Also the second One Day International which was originally scheduled to be played on Sunday was rescheduled to Monday, December 7 while the final game of the tour had to take place on Wednesday (December 9). The Covid-19 case in South Africa camp had raised fear among the authorities and players regarding the spread of the virus in the South Africa contingent.

However, all the speculations were put to rest by Cricket South Africa as they had announced that all the players including the support staff had tested negative for Covid-19 in the latest round of tests. But Sunday’s One-day International between the two teams was also cancelled after two staff members at the Vineyard Hotel, the place where the visiting team is residing, had returned COVID positive results.

England team will return home without playing a single ODI game

This was followed by England’s squad undergoing a Test after which the ECB had confirmed the two “unconfirmed positive results”. ECB and CA have now decided to shelve the whole One-day after looking at the increase in the number of players testing positive for the virus. This decision was announced to the media in a joint statement released by both the boards.

“Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have agreed to postpone the remaining matches in the current Betway One-Day International (ODI) Series. The decision was taken jointly by the two Boards to ensure the mental and physical health and welfare of players from both teams.” the joint statement read.

The England cricket team will now return back to their country without playing even a single 50-over game. However, the two teams had successfully completed the T20I series where the visitors were outshined by the hosts by 0-3.