COVID-19 or coronavirus has massively affected daily life globally. While sports have now become the regular part of the sports fans’ life, the fans are also sad in the present moment as most of the global sports have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Similarly, cricket has also affected in the present situation. Many crucial cricket events have directly affected due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Men’s internationals
2020 Interport T20I Series (Malaysia tour of Hong Kong) – Postponed the original schedule, but completed later in Malaysia
According to the initial schedule, the hosts Hong Kong and the visitors Malaysia had to play the five-match T20I series in Mong Kok between 18th and 22nd February 2020. But due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, it was cancelled. Later, the series was rescheduled from 20th to 26th February 2020, but this time Hong Kong toured in Malaysia. All the matches were played in Kuala Lumpur where the hosts Malaysia won the series by the 5-0 margin.
2020 ACC Eastern Region T20 (in Thailand) – China, Bhutan and Myanmar withdrew
The 2020 ACC Eastern Region T20 was scheduled from 29th February to 6th March 2020. The tournament was organised as a first qualifying stage for the 2020 Asia Cup. Though the tournament was hosted successfully by Thailand as Singapore finished as the champions, China, Bhutan and Myanmar withdrew their participation from the tournament due to the coronavirus outbreak. Apart from the hosts Thailand and the winners Singapore, the other participating teams were Hong Kong, Malaysia and Nepal.
South Africa tour of India in 2019/20: ODI series – Postponed after the first game
It was the three-match ODI schedule between the hosts India and the visitors South Africa from 12th March to 18th March 2020. The opening match of this series was abandoned due to the rain washout in Dharamsala. Initially, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to continue this series behind the closed doors according to the advice of Sports Ministry. However, later, the board decided to postpone the last two ODIs of this series.
2019/20 Chappell–Hadlee Trophy (New Zealand tour of Australia for ODI series) – Postponed after the first game
The three-match ODI series between Australia and New Zealand was scheduled to be played between 13th and 20th March 2020. Though the first match was played successfully behind the closed door (Australia won by 71 runs), the next two games have been postponed.
England tour of Sri Lanka in 2019/20: Test Series – Postponed
The hosts Sri Lanka had the schedule of the two-match Test series against England that would run between 19th March and 31st March 2020. But during the last tour match for England, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to postpone the series.
Mujib 100 T20 Cup Bangladesh 2020 – Postponed
In the celebration of birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) planned to organise two special T20Is between Asia XI and World XI on 21st and 22nd March 2020. But due to coronavirus outbreak, this series has been postponed.
Australia tour of New Zealand in 2019/20: T20I series – Postponed
According to the initial plan, Australia will play the three-match T20I series against the hosts New Zealand from 24th to 29th March 2020. However, the coronavirus outbreak has cancelled this series too.
2020 United States Tri-Nation Series: ODI series – Postponed
The hosts USA had the plan to play the triangular ODI series with the UAE and Scotland from 1st to 8th April 2020. This 2020 United States Tri-Nation Series is the part of the 2019–22 ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, which is the initial round of the qualification pathway to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, travel restrictions have been come out, and it has forced to postpone this series.
2020 ACA Africa T20 Cup Finals (in Kenya) – Postponed
A total of eight teams had to participate in the 2020 ACA Africa T20 Cup Finals in Kenya which was initially scheduled from 22nd March to 27th March 2020. The participating teams were Kenya, Botswana, Cameroon, Mozambique, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda. However, coronavirus has overpowered in this battle too.
The Netherlands tour of Namibia in 2019/20: ODI and T20I series – Postponed
In this tour, the Netherlands had the plan the play four-match T20I series and two-match ODI series against the hosts Namibia from 25th March to 1st April 2020. But it has also been postponed in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
Bangladesh tour of Pakistan in 2019/20: One-off ODI and Second Test – Postponed
National Stadium (Karachi) had the plan to host the only ODI between the hosts Pakistan and the visitors Bangladesh on 1st April 2020. Later, the second and final Test of the two-match Test series (the first Test was already played) was planned to be played from 5th April at the same venue. However, both of the matches have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ireland tour of Zimbabwe in 2019/20: ODI and T20I series – Postponed
According to the initial plan, the hosts Zimbabwe would play three-match ODI and three-match T20I series against Ireland from 2nd April to 12th April 2020. But the coronavirus outbreak has forced to postpone this international series.
Women’s internationals
Australia women’s tour of South Africa in 2019/20: WODI and WT20I series – Postponed
In this tour, Australia Women had the schedule to play the three-match WODI series and three-match WT20I series against the hosts South Africa Women from 22nd March to 4th April 2020. The WODI series was the part of the 2017–20 ICC Women’s Championship, which is the part of the direct qualification process to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021. The entire tour has been postponed after the coronavirus outbreak.
2020 Thailand Women’s Quadrangular Series: WODI series – Postponed
Apart from the hosts Thailand Women, the other three teams of this quadrangular WODI tournament were the Netherlands Women, Ireland Women and Zimbabwe Women. It was initially scheduled to be played between 3rd and 11th April 2020. However, this tournament was entirely called off due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Other major tournaments
PSL 2020 (in Pakistan) – Postponed the knock-out stages
It is the first time when Pakistan is hosting the entire Pakistan Super League (PSL 2020). The tournament started on 20th February, and it was originally scheduled to be ended on 22nd March 2020. But due to the coronavirus outbreak, the tournament has been rescheduled as the number of matches has been reduced from 34 to 33 (semi-finals replaced the first three playoffs) and the final of this tournament will be played now on 18th March 2020. While some foreign players and one coach have returned to the home in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the entire later stage of the tournament is running behind the closed doors. But ultimately the entire knockout stages has been postponed.
Road Safety World Series 2020 (in Maharashtra, India) – Postponed in the middle of the tournament
It was the inaugural edition of the Road Safety World Series which was initially planned to be held between 7th and 22nd March 2020 in Maharashtra. This tournament has been organised to create awareness about road safety. Five ICC Full Members were featuring in this tournament (India Legends, South Africa Legends, Sri Lanka Legends, Australia Legends and West Indies Legends) and their legendary international cricketers were serving for their respective sides.
After the first four matches, it was initially decided to be organised other remaining matches in the empty stadium. But ultimately the remaining matches have been postponed.
Everest Premier League 2020 (in Nepal) – Postponed
After the two reschedulings, the last planning was to organise the fourth edition of Everest Premier League (EPL) from 14th March to 28th March 2020. But due to the coronavirus outbreak, the tournament has been postponed again.
IPL 2020 (in India) – Postponed
The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was originally scheduled from 29th March to 24th May 2020. Initially, it was thought that the tournament would be run behind the closed door in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. But due to unavailability of the foreign cricketers till 15th April due to the visa cancellation, the BCCI decided to postpone this tournament mid-April.
Over-50s Cricket World Cup 2020 (in South Africa) – Postponed
A total of 12 teams were participating in the Over-50s Cricket World Cup 2020 in South Africa while the tournament started on 11th March 2020 and the final match was scheduled on 24th March 2020. But on 15th March 2020, the tournament was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.