Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has on Saturday (August 8) officially canceled this month’s five-match T20I home series against Afghanistan due to ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was taken after a sudden surge in Coronavirus cases in Zimbabwe which forced the government to impose more stern regulations in order to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
However, the ZC appealed the central government to allow the T20I series in a strictly controlled environment, but the Sports and Recreation Commission turned down the request by saying the country was not ready as yet to host any teams given a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.
ZC Acting Managing Director Givemore Makoni stated: “We were keen to see the imminent and safe return of cricket, but we understand the Government's health concerns and accept that canceling the proposed tour is sensible and in the best interest of players, match officials, volunteers, service providers, fans and the wider community.”
It was a major blow to the ZC as they are on the recovery path in terms of the financial state having laid out in a financial plan put together in collaboration with the International Cricket Council.
Mukuhlani had stated: “We've been walking through (a financial plan) with the ICC. We are on controlled funding and that has progressed very well. The restructuring of the organization has taken place, so we think that other than this COVID-19, we should be in a good space with our finances and that should allow more programs to take place.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
