As the world battles the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has decided to suspend all community cricket games, including clubs and schools, for the rest of the season after the cases of Covid-19 jumped to 20 in New Zealand.
The NZC chief executive David White on Wednesday (March 18) revealed that the board took the decision following expert advice from New Zealand’s chief medical officer and government for the wider public interest because of the rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus.
The COVID-19 has claimed nearly 8000 lives while affected close to 2,00,000 people across the world as well as led to many sporting events to be canceled or postponed with the quick rise of the virus.
In a message to NZC’s associations on Wednesday, Mr. David White said: “This morning NZC has received updated medical advice from our chief medical officer, Dr. Martin Swan, detailing the first person-to-person transmission of Covid-19 in New Zealand.”
The NZC chief executive continued, “Dr. Swan has described this as a significant change in the Covid-19 environment. His advice to NZC is that the community game (clubs and schools) is now increasingly vulnerable to the transmission of the virus. We, therefore, advise members that community cricket should no longer be played for the rest of the season.”
Meanwhile, NZC said in a media statement: “This decision follows our most recent medical advice and recognizes our obligations towards the New Zealand cricket family and the wider public interest.”
Noteworthy, earlier this week, the NZC has also canceled the final two rounds of the Plunket Shield. Club cricket which usually runs until late March in New Zealand, as well as, postponed the New Zealand Cricket Awards which was scheduled on March 30 because of the coronavirus fears.
(With stuff.nz Inputs)
