New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Monday (March 16) took a responsible decision to call off the remaining two rounds of this season's Plunket Shield, country's premier domestic first-class competition, fearing risk of coronavirus spread. 

Wellington, having reached the top of the six-team points table after six rounds of matches, was awarded the trophy amid unforeseen circumstances. 

Read Also: Australia cancels Sheffield Shield amid fears of coronavirus spread

"The strong consensus within NZC is that extra measures need to be taken to safeguard both the health and well-being of the New Zealand cricket family and the wider public interest," NZC chief executive David White said in an official statement. "The medical advice we're receiving is that we need to take a lead on this matter."

"We're informed the risk is very real; the pace of change is great - and we have a duty of care to not only our staff and players but our communities as well."

Aware of the pandemic, the NZC also postponed its annual cricket awards, scheduled for March 30. 

"Hopefully this is something we can stage at a later, and more appropriate date - but at the moment it would be far too much of a risk to hold the event in a fortnight, as scheduled," the statement further reads. 

"Our absolute priority right now is to safeguard the health and well-being of our staff, our players, our wider cricket family - and everyone else connected to the game in New Zealand."

Following the strict travelling restrictions imposed by the New Zealand government to contain the outbreak, the NZC had asked the national side to comeback from Australia, which led to the suspension of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after its first ODI in Sydney went ahead behind closed doors. 

The Aussies were due to fly across the Tasman Sea for a T20I series, scheduled to kickstart from March 24. But that series was also postponed.