England’s tour to South Africa is over after the two cricket unions on Monday decided to postpone the remaining two One-Day Internationals.
This after positive Covid-19 tests ahead the first of three clashes at Paarl last Friday.
Due to one South Africa player and two Vineyard Hotel staff, where both the Proteas and England teams were staying in the bio-secure space, that game was initially moved to Sunday.
But on Sunday, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced “unconfirmed positive results” which led to the first ODI being cancelled. And now no one feels safe.
In a statement on Monday, Cricket South Africa Acting CEO Kugandrie Govender said: “The concern over the mental health impact of recent events on all involved is not one that we as CSA or the ECB take lightly and the decision to postpone the tour is the most responsible and reasonable course of action for us.
CSA Acting CEO, Kugandrie Govender said: “The concern over the mental health impact of recent events on all involved is not one that we as CSA or the ECB take lightly and the decision to postpone the tour is the most responsible and reasonable course of action for us.
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 7, 2020
“I would like to thank the ECB for the continued positive relations, and we look forward to hosting the England team in the near future.”
ECB CEO Tom Harrison adds: “We have always maintained that the welfare of our players and management is paramount.
“We were concerned about the potential impact that recent developments might have on the wellbeing of the touring party, and so after consultation with CSA we have jointly made the decision to postpone the remaining matches in this Series, in best interest of the players’ welfare.”
England had whitewashed the Proteas in the three-match T20I in the previous two weeks.