Resuming cricket behind closed doors whenever safe to do so will be valuable for the sport's fans who have been deprived of live action because of the COVID-19 forced shutdown, Australia head coach Justin Langer said. 

International and domestic cricket fixtures remain globally suspended because of the pandemic. But if the situation improves gradually, even if not entirely, with time, one option that will be discussed by administrators across the world is to play games in empty stadiums. 

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"When you started off playing cricket, when you were under age, there’s no crowds there," Langer told BBC Radio.

"You played it because you loved playing the game, you loved playing with your mates and you loved playing the game."

The first ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in March was played behind closed doors in Sydney, with only players, support staffs, match officials, broadcasting and other media personnel allowed to enter in, but the series was later indefinitely postponed as the New Zealand government put strict travelling restrictions in place for all its citizens, asking the national side to immediately fly back home. 

"For the love of the game, and for still being able to entertain people through TV sets or radio, then there’s value in (playing behind closed doors)," Langer said. 

"Yes it’s different, but we’ll never, ever, ever take for granted how lucky we are ever again."

The circumstances further led to the suspension of Australia's scheduled T20I series in New Zealand. 

In India, the fate of the 13th edition of the IPL hangs in balance at this stage. 

Australia's mid-year tours to England, Bangladesh are also under serious threat. 

(Inputs from AFP)