Australia-New Zealand T20I series abandoned due to COVID-19 restrictions

The three-match T20I series in March between New Zealand and Australia has been abandoned due to the Australian team’s lack of a managed isolation quarantine spot. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and Cricket Australia (CA) have agreed to abandon the four-day series in Napier in mid of March.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said when the tour was scheduled, there was hope that the border across Tasmania was likely to be opened for those who would follow the rules. However, due to Omicron, all the rules and regulations of the border have been changed. As a result, it is now impossible for NZC to continue the series.

Three T20I matches were scheduled to be played on March 17, 18, and 20 at McLaren Park in Napier. The MIQ rules for visitors will be relaxed a bit, and the T20I series was originally scheduled with that hope. However, relaxation hasn’t been made. As a result, the series had to be cancelled.

At present, the concept of two national sides of a similar country playing in two places at the same time has become quite popular. This tour was like that too. In March, a team from Australia would play a Test series on Pakistani soil, and another team would play on New Zealand soil.

Earlier, New Zealand’s tour of Australia from the end of January to February was also cancelled due to Covid-19. With the joint consent of the two boards, the world champion Australia’s T20I series on New Zealand soil has now been cancelled as well.