New Zealand’s Bangladesh tour unlikely- NZC chief executive
Image : Getty
|| CF Correspondent ||
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White on Friday said Black Caps tours to Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands and the West Indies in June and July are “most unlikely” to go ahead because of the coronavirus pandemic while a tour to Bangladesh in August is also in doubt.
NZC chief executive David confirmed the postponement of the White Ferns' tour of Sri Lanka, scheduled to start later this month, and said it was "most unlikely" the Black Caps would proceed with their tours of Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands and West Indies planned for June and July.
White said there were obvious question marks over the Black Caps' visit to Bangladesh, and the New Zealand A tour to India, both scheduled to start in August, but it was too early to categorically rule them out.
Bangladesh were scheduled to host New Zealand for two matches of Test Championship in August.
"Clearly, this situation is extremely disappointing for everyone involved in sport but, given the bigger picture, and the terrible toll Covid-19 is taking worldwide, we need to look after not only our own people but the greater community good," White said in a statement.
“With the lockdown now in full force we’re mindful of the difficulties facing our cricket community, particularly in view of the suspension of trust funding.
“Our current focus is very much on ensuring the future sustainability of cricket in New Zealand.”
White said cricket in New Zealand was better placed to navigate the shutdown caused by the pandemic because it had completed most of its summer domestic program before the viral outbreak hit.
‘’Cricket in New Zealand has been fortunate in that we were very much at the end of our home summer programme when this crisis struck,’’ he said.
