The Proteas’ tour of Sri Lanka later this year has been postponed.

The June series was due to feature three ODIs and as many T20Is, but has been deferred as a preventative measure against the coronavirus pandemic.

The ODI leg would have been South Africa’s first commitment to the International Cricket Council’s new one-day league.

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‘It is very sad that we have been forced to take this step and we will reschedule the tour as soon as cricket returns to a sense of normality and our international fixture list allows,’ said Cricket South Africa chief executive officer Dr Jacques Faul.

‘Our Proteas would not have been able to prepare properly taking our own lockdown situation into account and, more importantly, health considerations for our players, which are always paramount, were the over-riding factor.

“It would have been a particularly important tour for us with the three ODIs counting for the new ICC one-day league and the T20 programme being part of our preparation for the T20 World Cup scheduled for Australia later this year.

‘It is very frustrating for the players who want to build on the good form they showed at the back end of our home summer against Australia.’

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South Africa’s ODI series in India last month was also aborted amid the spread of the virus.

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