Cricket South Africa has suspended all cricket

Cricket South Africa has suspended all cricket, professional and amateur, for the next 60 days after the country’s president Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster of Sunday. Widespread measures across the country, which include a travel ban on people from high-risk areas, and a prohibition of gatherings of over 100 people, have now halted sporting events, with the Premier Soccer League, Super Rugby and the Two Oceans Marathon also suspended.

That means the ongoing franchise one-day cup competitions semi-finals and final, which were due to take place this week, will not be played; neither will the final two rounds of the first-class competition, scheduled to run from late March into early April. CSA has yet to announce whether they will declare a winner for either.

The Dolphins are atop the one-day cup table with seven wins from their 10 round-robin matches and were due to play the Warriors in the first semi-final, with the second-placed Lions scheduled to play the Knights. Those matches will not take place. In the first-class competition, thought to be particularly important as South Africa look to name a new Test captain following Faf du Plessis’ stepping down, the Lions lead the pack.

Semi-professional cricket, including the three-day first-class competition and provincial one-day cup, which are both at their closing stages, has been stopped as well as amateur cricket such as club fixtures. In Cape Town, the Western Province Cricket Association office has been closed until further notice and the over-50s World Cup called off. South Africa men’s ODI trip to India was postponed after just one match and they return home on Wednesday morning while the women’s side’s series against Australia, due to take place this month, has also been put back.