HARARE: Zimbabwe Cricket puts all cricketing activities on hold

HARARE: Zimbabwe Cricket has been forced to put all the cricketing
activities on hold with immediate effect as a spike in Covid-19 cases in the
country resulted in fresh imposition of lockdown restrictions by the
government.

Zimbabwe is said to have recorded
1342 positive cases and 29 deaths in the space of one week, leaving them with
no choice but to impose a nation-wide curfew. Re-opening of schools have also
been postponed in light of the recent events.

This decision hugely impacts cricket
in Zimbabwe. On January 4, the men’s domestic T20
tournament was to get underway, with players already under mandatory
quarantine. In an official release, ZC stated that the event is now postponed
with the view of conducting it as soon as it deemed safe to do so.

It also remains to be seen how much
this latest development will impact the three T20Is and two Tests series
against Afghanistan, which was to be played in late January. Originally the
tour was to take place in India but was later decided to be played either in
UAE or in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe are also expected to host
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan at some point this year.