The Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Friday announced its office will shut down from March 23 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. BAI is the latest National Sports Federation (NSF) to shut down its premises in the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak.

"In the wake of the Corona Virus outbreak and the advisories issued by the Sports Ministry and Government of India guidelines for safety measures, Badminton Association of India (BAI) has decided to shut down their office from March 23, " a media release said.

BAI General Secretary, Ajay K Singhania added that the situation will be reviewed on March 31.

"After assessing the situations and discussions with various stake holders, it was observed as the best solution and health and wellbeing of our staff is of prime importance for BAI," Singhania said.

All staff members have been instructed to work from home and only in cases of absolute emergency, they may go to office.

Last week, BAI was forced to suspend the India Open, to be held in New Delhi from March 24 to 29, after the world body (BWF) decided to halt all events from March 16 due to the pandemic.

On Thursday Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for a 'janta curfew' on March 22 from 7 am-9 pm, saying no citizen, barring those in essential services, should get out of house. While the country's health ministry has repeatedly advised people to stay at home.

The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 2,00,000 people worldwide and led to over 9,000 deaths. In India more than 190 have tested positive so far and four have died.

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Friday announced its office will shut down from March 23 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. BAI is the latest National Sports Federation (NSF) to shut down its premises in the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak.

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Friday announced its office will shut down from March 23 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. BAI is the latest National Sports Federation (NSF) to shut down its premises in the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak. "In the wake of the Corona Virus outbreak and the advisories issued by the Sports Ministry and Government of India guidelines for safety measures, Badminton Association of India (BAI) has decided to shut down their office from March 23, " a media release said. BAI General Secretary, Ajay K Singhania added that the situation will be reviewed on March 31. "After assessing the situations and discussions with various stake holders, it was observed as the best solution and health and wellbeing of our staff is of prime importance for BAI," Singhania said. All staff members have been instructed to work from home and only in cases of absolute emergency, they may go to office. Last week, BAI was forced to suspend the India Open, to be held in New Delhi from March 24 to 29, after the world body (BWF) decided to halt all events from March 16 due to the pandemic. On Thursday Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for a 'janta curfew' on March 22 from 7 am-9 pm, saying no citizen, barring those in essential services, should get out of house. While the country's health ministry has repeatedly advised people to stay at home. The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 2,00,000 people worldwide and led to over 9,000 deaths. In India more than 190 have tested positive so far and four have died.

BAI shuts down office, instructs employees to work from home

Indian Women&nbsp;team's spirited performance in the recently concluded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 made every Indian cricket fan proud. While Team India received high praise from the former cricketers and experts for their campaign in the showpiece event, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led outfit fell just short of lifting the coveted trophy as India were defeated by defending champions Australia Women in the summit clash at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.&nbsp;

The credit behind the rich success of the Indian Women’s team has to go to former Indian cricketer and the head coach of the Women’s team, WV Raman, who took the baton forward at a time when controversies had started to mar women’s cricket. After India’s successful campaign in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Raman has said that he is trying to create a team that will stick together and dominate world cricket.

ALSO READ: '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-the-need-of-the-hour-is-to-virat-kohli-anushka-sharma-urge-people-to-act-together-against-covid-19-287514">The need of the hour is to..' - Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma urge people to act together against COVID-19</a>

Raman further said that the performance in the showpiece event has boosted everyone’s confidence in the dressing room and the players can now bank on the experience in crunch matches.

“I’m trying to create a team which will play together for 6-8 years and dominate world cricket. That’s what sets the Australian team apart. As a team, they have played quite a few finals together and that’s the reason why they dominated the World Cup,” Raman told a leading daily.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/should-ms-dhoni-play-in-icc-t20-world-cup-2020-sunil-gavaskar-gives-his-take-287584">Should MS Dhoni play in ICC T20 World Cup 2020? Sunil Gavaskar gives his take</a>

“Their performance has given everyone a lot of confidence and has shown Indian cricket can be a dominant force in the women’s category as well. They are a young side and their performance was important to inspire girls, especially those who are on the threshold of deciding whether to take up women’s cricket as a profession,” he added.

The likes of Poonam Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma stood out in the Indian team as the girls left everyone stunned with their ability to turn a match single-handedly. While the experienced campaigners in Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet didn’t perform to the best of their ability, it didn’t let anyone in the team affect their respective performances. 
&nbsp;

Indian Women team's spirited performance in the recently concluded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 made every Indian cricket fan proud. While Team India received high praise from the former cricketers and experts for their campaign in the showpiece event, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led outfit fell just short of lifting the coveted trophy as India were defeated by defending champions Australia Women in the summit clash at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Indian Women team's spirited performance in the recently concluded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 made every Indian cricket fan proud. While Team India received high praise from the former cricketers and experts for their campaign in the showpiece event, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led outfit fell just short of lifting the coveted trophy as India were defeated by defending champions Australia Women in the summit clash at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. The credit behind the rich success of the Indian Women’s team has to go to former Indian cricketer and the head coach of the Women’s team, WV Raman, who took the baton forward at a time when controversies had started to mar women’s cricket. After India’s successful campaign in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Raman has said that he is trying to create a team that will stick together and dominate world cricket. ALSO READ: 'The need of the hour is to..' - Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma urge people to act together against COVID-19 Raman further said that the performance in the showpiece event has boosted everyone’s confidence in the dressing room and the players can now bank on the experience in crunch matches. “I’m trying to create a team which will play together for 6-8 years and dominate world cricket. That’s what sets the Australian team apart. As a team, they have played quite a few finals together and that’s the reason why they dominated the World Cup,” Raman told a leading daily. ALSO READ: Should MS Dhoni play in ICC T20 World Cup 2020? Sunil Gavaskar gives his take “Their performance has given everyone a lot of confidence and has shown Indian cricket can be a dominant force in the women’s category as well. They are a young side and their performance was important to inspire girls, especially those who are on the threshold of deciding whether to take up women’s cricket as a profession,” he added. The likes of Poonam Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma stood out in the Indian team as the girls left everyone stunned with their ability to turn a match single-handedly. While the experienced campaigners in Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet didn’t perform to the best of their ability, it didn’t let anyone in the team affect their respective performances.

Trying to create a team which will dominate world cricket: WV Raman on Indian Women team's future

A lot has been said about MS Dhoni’s future with the Indian cricket team since he last played for the Men in Blue in the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2019. Dhoni was supposed to return to the cricket field in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 but the current situation surrounding the novel coronavirus has torn apart every plan-sheet.&nbsp;

Former Indian skipper and a legend of the gentlemen’s game, Sunil Gavaskar has opined on whether he sees Dhoni in the Team India squad for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2020 which is scheduled to be played in Australia in the month of October.

Gavaskar has said that even though he would like to see Dhoni playing in the T20 World Cup, it is highly unlikely that he would be slotted into the squad. Gavaskar further said that Team India has moved on from Dhoni.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sports-minister-kiren-rijiju-provides-update-on-future-of-ipl-2020-287530">Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju provides update on future of IPL 2020</a>

<h2>"It’s highly unlikely to happen"</h2>

Commenting on why Dhoni hasn’t announced his retirement despite taking such a lengthy sabbatical from the game, Gavaskar said that Dhoni is not someone who will make a big announcement while adding he thinks the veteran gloveman will silently walk away from the gentlemen’s game.

“I would certainly like to see Dhoni in India’s World Cup squad but it’s highly unlikely to happen. The team has moved on. Dhoni is not someone to make big announcements so I reckon he would silently retire from the game,” Gavaskar told a news daily.

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kevin-pietersen-reaches-out-to-india-on-coronavirus-awareness-in-hindi-287538">Kevin Pietersen reaches out to India on coronavirus awareness in Hindi</a>

While there have been mixed opinions relating to whether Dhoni should make Team India comeback or not, domestic legend Wasim Jaffer said that it is a no-brainer to pick Dhoni as he would bring experience and expertise behind the stumps while supporting the likes of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Jaffer said that Dhoni’s addition would add an extra dimension to the Indian squad.

A lot has been said about MS Dhoni’s future with the Indian cricket team since he last played for the Men in Blue in the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2019. Dhoni was supposed to return to the cricket field in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 but the current situation surrounding the novel coronavirus has torn apart every plan-sheet.

A lot has been said about MS Dhoni’s future with the Indian cricket team since he last played for the Men in Blue in the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2019. Dhoni was supposed to return to the cricket field in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 but the current situation surrounding the novel coronavirus has torn apart every plan-sheet. Former Indian skipper and a legend of the gentlemen’s game, Sunil Gavaskar has opined on whether he sees Dhoni in the Team India squad for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2020 which is scheduled to be played in Australia in the month of October. Gavaskar has said that even though he would like to see Dhoni playing in the T20 World Cup, it is highly unlikely that he would be slotted into the squad. Gavaskar further said that Team India has moved on from Dhoni. ALSO READ: Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju provides update on future of IPL 2020 "It’s highly unlikely to happen" Commenting on why Dhoni hasn’t announced his retirement despite taking such a lengthy sabbatical from the game, Gavaskar said that Dhoni is not someone who will make a big announcement while adding he thinks the veteran gloveman will silently walk away from the gentlemen’s game. “I would certainly like to see Dhoni in India’s World Cup squad but it’s highly unlikely to happen. The team has moved on. Dhoni is not someone to make big announcements so I reckon he would silently retire from the game,” Gavaskar told a news daily. ALSO READ: Kevin Pietersen reaches out to India on coronavirus awareness in Hindi While there have been mixed opinions relating to whether Dhoni should make Team India comeback or not, domestic legend Wasim Jaffer said that it is a no-brainer to pick Dhoni as he would bring experience and expertise behind the stumps while supporting the likes of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Jaffer said that Dhoni’s addition would add an extra dimension to the Indian squad.

Should MS Dhoni play in ICC T20 World Cup 2020? Sunil Gavaskar gives his take

With the novel coronavirus spreading like a wildfire, the sporting calendar has been massively disrupted. All the major tournaments and sporting events have been either postponed or cancelled keeping the safety and welfare of all involved in the respective events. The much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 was suspended until April 15 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and it remains to be seen whether the cash-rich tournament will take place with the situation surrounding the deadly virus escalating with each passing day.&nbsp;

Sports Minister, Kiren Rijiju provided an update on IPL 2020 as he said the government will come up with a new set of advisory after April 15. Rijiju further said the matter surrounding IPL 2020 includes the safety of citizens as there will be thousands of spectators watching the mega event while adding that hence, the advisory is not just for sporting bodies or athletes but for every citizen of India.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-2020-tokyo-olympics-happen-india-will-have-to-participate-irrespective-of-any-threat-ioa-official-287363">If 2020 Tokyo Olympics happen, India will have to participate irrespective of any threat: IOA official</a>

<h2>Government to come up with new advisory and guidelines after April 15</h2>

"After April 15 the government will come up with new advisory and guidelines according to the situation. BCCI is a body that looks after cricket which is not an Olympic sport. But here it is not the question of the sporting event alone but a question of the safety of the citizens. In an event, there will be thousands of spectators. So it is not just for the sports bodies or sportspersons it is for every citizen of the country," Rijiju said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-the-need-of-the-hour-is-to-virat-kohli-anushka-sharma-urge-people-to-act-together-against-covid-19-287514">'The need of the hour is to..' - Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma urge people to act together against COVID-19</a>

Meanwhile, the BCCI has already said that it will continue to evaluate the situation surrounding the novel coronavirus and take a call as things develop. While a complete IPL 2020 looks unlikely, a truncated version of the tournament is on the cards given the situation improves in the coming days or weeks.

As of Friday, at least 195 positive COVID-19 cases, including 32 foreigners, have been reported in India. 
&nbsp;

With the novel coronavirus spreading like a wildfire, the sporting calendar has been massively disrupted. All the major tournaments and sporting events have been either postponed or cancelled keeping the safety and welfare of all involved in the respective events.

With the novel coronavirus spreading like a wildfire, the sporting calendar has been massively disrupted. All the major tournaments and sporting events have been either postponed or cancelled keeping the safety and welfare of all involved in the respective events. The much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 was suspended until April 15 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and it remains to be seen whether the cash-rich tournament will take place with the situation surrounding the deadly virus escalating with each passing day. Sports Minister, Kiren Rijiju provided an update on IPL 2020 as he said the government will come up with a new set of advisory after April 15. Rijiju further said the matter surrounding IPL 2020 includes the safety of citizens as there will be thousands of spectators watching the mega event while adding that hence, the advisory is not just for sporting bodies or athletes but for every citizen of India. ALSO READ: If 2020 Tokyo Olympics happen, India will have to participate irrespective of any threat: IOA official Government to come up with new advisory and guidelines after April 15 "After April 15 the government will come up with new advisory and guidelines according to the situation. BCCI is a body that looks after cricket which is not an Olympic sport. But here it is not the question of the sporting event alone but a question of the safety of the citizens. In an event, there will be thousands of spectators. So it is not just for the sports bodies or sportspersons it is for every citizen of the country," Rijiju said. ALSO READ: 'The need of the hour is to..' - Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma urge people to act together against COVID-19 Meanwhile, the BCCI has already said that it will continue to evaluate the situation surrounding the novel coronavirus and take a call as things develop. While a complete IPL 2020 looks unlikely, a truncated version of the tournament is on the cards given the situation improves in the coming days or weeks. As of Friday, at least 195 positive COVID-19 cases, including 32 foreigners, have been reported in India.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju provides update on future of IPL 2020

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen on Friday urged Indian citizens to follow government directions on self-isolation to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, posting a message in Hindi with some help from his former IPL teammate Sreevats Goswami.

The 39-year-old took to Twitter to say "Greetings India. Everyone is united in the fight against coronavirus and that everyone should listen to their government's instructions and stay at home for a few days. This is time to be smart."

"Namaste India, hum sab corona virus ko harane mein ek saath hai , hum sab apne apne sarkar ki baat ka nirdes kare aur ghar me kuch Dino ke liye rahe , yeh samay hai hosiyaar rahene ka .App sabhi ko der sara pyaar," Pietersen tweeted in Hindi.

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Namaste india hum sab corona virus ko harane mein ek saath hai , hum sab apne apne sarkar ki baat ka nirdes kare aur ghar me kuch Dino ke liye rahe , yeh samay hai hosiyaar rahene ka .App sabhi ko der sara pyaar 
 
My Hindi teacher - <a href="https://twitter.com/shreevats1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shreevats1</a>
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1240903502345486336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

He credited Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Goswami for teaching him Hindi. Both have played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. 
The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 2,00,000 people worldwide and led to over 9,000 deaths. In India more than 190 have tested positive so far and four have died.

The country's health ministry has repeatedly advised people to stay at home and on Thursday Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated a nationwide self-imposed curfew on Sunday to help the containment efforts.

Earlier this month, Pietersen visited the Kaziranga National Park in Assam to shoot a documentary on rhino conservation. He had lauded India's efforts in a series of tweets.

"The rhino population in India is BOOMING! Africa should take note! Face with monocle. Saving these iconic species CAN be done and IS being done here! Bravo, India!"

"India has given me so much over the last 15yrs &amp; to be able to visit somewhere so remote and so spectacular today, just made my trip. I'm so much happier, that we can film a doc celebrating the beauty of #IncredibleIndia!" he had tweeted.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen on Friday urged Indian citizens to follow government directions on self-isolation to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, posting a message in Hindi with some help from his former IPL teammate Sreevats Goswami.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen on Friday urged Indian citizens to follow government directions on self-isolation to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, posting a message in Hindi with some help from his former IPL teammate Sreevats Goswami. The 39-year-old took to Twitter to say "Greetings India. Everyone is united in the fight against coronavirus and that everyone should listen to their government's instructions and stay at home for a few days. This is time to be smart." "Namaste India, hum sab corona virus ko harane mein ek saath hai , hum sab apne apne sarkar ki baat ka nirdes kare aur ghar me kuch Dino ke liye rahe , yeh samay hai hosiyaar rahene ka .App sabhi ko der sara pyaar," Pietersen tweeted in Hindi. Namaste india hum sab corona virus ko harane mein ek saath hai , hum sab apne apne sarkar ki baat ka nirdes kare aur ghar me kuch Dino ke liye rahe , yeh samay hai hosiyaar rahene ka .App sabhi ko der sara pyaar My Hindi teacher - @shreevats1 — Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 20, 2020 × He credited Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Goswami for teaching him Hindi. Both have played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 2,00,000 people worldwide and led to over 9,000 deaths. In India more than 190 have tested positive so far and four have died. The country's health ministry has repeatedly advised people to stay at home and on Thursday Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated a nationwide self-imposed curfew on Sunday to help the containment efforts. Earlier this month, Pietersen visited the Kaziranga National Park in Assam to shoot a documentary on rhino conservation. He had lauded India's efforts in a series of tweets. "The rhino population in India is BOOMING! Africa should take note! Face with monocle. Saving these iconic species CAN be done and IS being done here! Bravo, India!" "India has given me so much over the last 15yrs & to be able to visit somewhere so remote and so spectacular today, just made my trip. I'm so much happier, that we can film a doc celebrating the beauty of #IncredibleIndia!" he had tweeted.

Kevin Pietersen reaches out to India on coronavirus awareness in Hindi

Legendary India footballer P K Banerjee died here on Friday after battling prolonged illness. He was 83. Banerjee is survived by daughters Paula and Purna, who are renowned academicians, and younger brother Prasun Banerjee, who is a sitting Trinamool Congress MP.

The 1962 Asian Games gold-medallist, whose best days as a striker coincided with Indian football's golden era, was suffering from respiratory problems due to pneumonia.

He also had an underlying history of Parkinson's disease, dementia and heart problem. He was on life support at a hospital here since March 2 and breathed his last at 12:40pm, according to a family member.

Born on June 23, 1936 in Moynaguri on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, Banerjee's family relocated to his uncle's place in Jamshedpur before partition.

He scored 65 international goals in 84 appearance for the national team.

Besides winning the gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Games in 1992, Banerjee led India in the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he scored the equaliser against a formidable French team in a 1-1 draw.

Before that, Banerjee represented India in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and played a key role in their 4-2 win over Australia in the quarterfinals. 
Banerjee's contribution to Indian football was duly recognised by the world governing body FIFA that awarded him the Centennial Order of Merit in 2004

Legendary India footballer P K Banerjee died here on Friday after battling prolonged illness. He was 83. Banerjee is survived by daughters Paula and Purna, who are renowned academicians, and younger brother Prasun Banerjee, who is a sitting Trinamool Congress MP.

Legendary India footballer P K Banerjee died here on Friday after battling prolonged illness. He was 83. Banerjee is survived by daughters Paula and Purna, who are renowned academicians, and younger brother Prasun Banerjee, who is a sitting Trinamool Congress MP. The 1962 Asian Games gold-medallist, whose best days as a striker coincided with Indian football's golden era, was suffering from respiratory problems due to pneumonia. He also had an underlying history of Parkinson's disease, dementia and heart problem. He was on life support at a hospital here since March 2 and breathed his last at 12:40pm, according to a family member. Born on June 23, 1936 in Moynaguri on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, Banerjee's family relocated to his uncle's place in Jamshedpur before partition. He scored 65 international goals in 84 appearance for the national team. Besides winning the gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Games in 1992, Banerjee led India in the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he scored the equaliser against a formidable French team in a 1-1 draw. Before that, Banerjee represented India in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and played a key role in their 4-2 win over Australia in the quarterfinals. Banerjee's contribution to Indian football was duly recognised by the world governing body FIFA that awarded him the Centennial Order of Merit in 2004

Indian football legend PK Banerjee dies aged 83

The Olympic flame arrived in Japan to a scaled-down welcoming ceremony Friday as doubts grew over whether the Tokyo Games will go ahead on schedule with the coronavirus pandemic causing chaos around the world.

As the flame, enclosed in a special lantern, landed on a charter flight, a Japanese Olympic Committee member broke ranks to call for a postponement and Olympics chief Thomas Bach admitted "different scenarios" were under consideration.

"Of course we are considering different scenarios, but we are contrary to many other sports organisations or professional leagues in that we are four-and-a-half months away from the Games," Bach, the International Olympic Committee president, told the New York Times.

"For us, (postponement) would not be responsible now and it would be premature to start speculation or make a decision at a time when we do not have any recommendation from the task force," he added.

Reflecting the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, the flame's arrival at Matsushima Air Base in Japan's north was a muted affair after organisers were forced to cancel plans to invite 200 schoolchildren.

Former Olympic judo champions Saori Yoshida and Tadahiro Nomura lit a ceremonial cauldron in front of a few dozen officials and guests.

"Children had planned to welcome the Olympic flame, but we decided to scale it down, giving priority to their safety," said Tokyo 2020 chief Yoshiro Mori.

The nationwide torch relay begins on March 26, starting from the J-Village sports complex in Fukushima that was used as a base for workers during the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

But organisers have been forced to scale back the relay, closing daily ceremonies to the public and urging spectators to "avoid forming crowds" along the route.

<h2>- Olympics 'should be postponed' -</h2>

Speculation has been growing over the Games, scheduled to start on July 24, after the COVID-19 outbreak closed sports competitions around the world and paralysed many countries, along with international travel.

The virus has already disrupted the early stages of the torch's journey in Greece, with the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia taking place without spectators.

Organisers then had to scrap the Greek leg of the relay after large crowds mobbed Hollywood actor Gerard Butler as he lit a cauldron in the city of Sparta.

With borders shut in Europe -- which has become the epicentre of the crisis -- Tokyo officials did not travel to collect the torch, with former Olympic swimmer Naoko Imoto representing Japan at the official handover.

As the flame landed, there are increasing clouds over the Games, with some athletes attacking the IOC for insisting there's no need for "drastic" action such as postponement or cancellation.

Japanese Olympic Committee executive board member Kaori Yamaguchi, a former Olympic judoka, was the latest prominent figure to call for a postponement, citing the difficulties faced by athletes.

"It should be postponed under the current situation where athletes are not well prepared," Yamaguchi told the Nikkei daily.

"By asking them to train under these conditions, the IOC is opening itself up the criticism that it is not putting athletes first," she added.

Bach, under fire after the IOC advised athletes to continue training "as best they can", insisted health considerations were "first and foremost" -- and that the decision won't be driven by financial interest.

"What makes this crisis so unique and so difficult to overcome is the uncertainty. Nobody today can tell you what the developments are tomorrow, what they are in one month, not to mention in more than four months," he said.

"Therefore it would not be responsible in any way to set a date or take a decision right now, which would be based on the speculation about the future developments."

Bach said the IOC will act on advice from its own task force and the World Health Organization, but was optimistic about holding the Games on time. He added that there was no question of a cancellation.

The Olympic flame arrived in Japan to a scaled-down welcoming ceremony Friday as doubts grew over whether the Tokyo Games will go ahead on schedule with the coronavirus pandemic causing chaos around the world.

The Olympic flame arrived in Japan to a scaled-down welcoming ceremony Friday as doubts grew over whether the Tokyo Games will go ahead on schedule with the coronavirus pandemic causing chaos around the world. As the flame, enclosed in a special lantern, landed on a charter flight, a Japanese Olympic Committee member broke ranks to call for a postponement and Olympics chief Thomas Bach admitted "different scenarios" were under consideration. "Of course we are considering different scenarios, but we are contrary to many other sports organisations or professional leagues in that we are four-and-a-half months away from the Games," Bach, the International Olympic Committee president, told the New York Times. "For us, (postponement) would not be responsible now and it would be premature to start speculation or make a decision at a time when we do not have any recommendation from the task force," he added. Reflecting the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, the flame's arrival at Matsushima Air Base in Japan's north was a muted affair after organisers were forced to cancel plans to invite 200 schoolchildren. Former Olympic judo champions Saori Yoshida and Tadahiro Nomura lit a ceremonial cauldron in front of a few dozen officials and guests. "Children had planned to welcome the Olympic flame, but we decided to scale it down, giving priority to their safety," said Tokyo 2020 chief Yoshiro Mori. The nationwide torch relay begins on March 26, starting from the J-Village sports complex in Fukushima that was used as a base for workers during the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. But organisers have been forced to scale back the relay, closing daily ceremonies to the public and urging spectators to "avoid forming crowds" along the route. - Olympics 'should be postponed' - Speculation has been growing over the Games, scheduled to start on July 24, after the COVID-19 outbreak closed sports competitions around the world and paralysed many countries, along with international travel. The virus has already disrupted the early stages of the torch's journey in Greece, with the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia taking place without spectators. Organisers then had to scrap the Greek leg of the relay after large crowds mobbed Hollywood actor Gerard Butler as he lit a cauldron in the city of Sparta. With borders shut in Europe -- which has become the epicentre of the crisis -- Tokyo officials did not travel to collect the torch, with former Olympic swimmer Naoko Imoto representing Japan at the official handover. As the flame landed, there are increasing clouds over the Games, with some athletes attacking the IOC for insisting there's no need for "drastic" action such as postponement or cancellation. Japanese Olympic Committee executive board member Kaori Yamaguchi, a former Olympic judoka, was the latest prominent figure to call for a postponement, citing the difficulties faced by athletes. "It should be postponed under the current situation where athletes are not well prepared," Yamaguchi told the Nikkei daily. "By asking them to train under these conditions, the IOC is opening itself up the criticism that it is not putting athletes first," she added. Bach, under fire after the IOC advised athletes to continue training "as best they can", insisted health considerations were "first and foremost" -- and that the decision won't be driven by financial interest. "What makes this crisis so unique and so difficult to overcome is the uncertainty. Nobody today can tell you what the developments are tomorrow, what they are in one month, not to mention in more than four months," he said. "Therefore it would not be responsible in any way to set a date or take a decision right now, which would be based on the speculation about the future developments." Bach said the IOC will act on advice from its own task force and the World Health Organization, but was optimistic about holding the Games on time. He added that there was no question of a cancellation.

Olympic flame gets muted welcome in Japan as Games doubts grow

The Olympics going ahead in Tokyo this year is "highly unlikely", the boss of Asian golf told AFP, and proceeding as planned could cost players the chance to qualify.

The International Olympic Committee said this week it was "fully committed" to holding the Games from July 24 despite the coronavirus pandemic, but acknowledged there was no "ideal" solution as pressure mounted for a postponement.

Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant confirmed that all tournaments across the continent had been suspended until at least the end of May, in line with the US PGA and European Tours.

"I think everyone right now is more in a state of shock, just trying to figure out what they do with themselves," said Cho, speaking by telephone from Asian Tour headquarters in Singapore.&nbsp;

With the prospect of scarcely any competitive golf before the Olympic rankings qualifying cut-off on June 22, Cho said it would be harsh on players from unheralded golf nations.

"Our plan initially was to have about 16 or 17 tournaments before the Olympic cut-off," Cho said. "Today, we probably have only about four or five Asian Tour players eligible for the Olympics."

<h2>- Olympics 'highly unlikely' -</h2>

On current rankings, only Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond and Gunn Charoenkul, the Indian pair of Rashid Khan and Udayan Mane plus Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines would represent the Asian Tour in the 60-strong Tokyo field.

"Given the amount of golf that was left to be played, we were hopeful that more players from nations like Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines would have the opportunity to get into the Olympics over the next two or three months," said Cho.&nbsp;

"Obviously, that's not going to happen.&nbsp;

"I can understand why they would want to push forward with the Olympics -- there'd be huge revenue ramifications on the economy of Japan --&nbsp;but it seems highly unlikely now in my opinion."

Cho said that he hadn't yet heard of any players suffering financial hardship but acknowledged that a long layoff could have an impact.

Players such as the world number 39 Jazz, last year's Asian Tour order of merit winner, will remain in the US where he had been due to play a full schedule before a debut at the now-postponed US Masters next month.

"I keep in contact with quite a few players and a lot of them are comfortable," Cho said.&nbsp;

"I feel for the guys who just came through qualifying school and they've probably played one or two events in their life.

"It's very different to having a bad season where you're missing cuts, but you still have got the opportunity to compete.&nbsp;

"Right now you're deprived of the opportunity to compete. That's a whole different ballgame."&nbsp;

<h2>- Calendar shift -</h2>

The Asian Tour can play all-year round, which means the crisis could lead to a permanent shift in the Asian golfing calendar to a wraparound season played from September to April.

"A tour like Europe's going to have a lot harder time rescheduling events. Theirs is a very short golf season," Cho said.&nbsp;

"I'm hoping that we can continue golf this year, whether it be July, September, October or November. It will definitely help mitigate the potential downside.

"If we could start between July and October, it means we will probably go through to April. We've been planning a wraparound season for the longest time but never really formalised it.

"We're talking to sponsors and promoters. They're definitely ready to go. They're prepared to stage events whenever the world is ready to get back to normal."

The Olympics going ahead in Tokyo this year is "highly unlikely", the boss of Asian golf told AFP, and proceeding as planned could cost players the chance to qualify.

The Olympics going ahead in Tokyo this year is "highly unlikely", the boss of Asian golf told AFP, and proceeding as planned could cost players the chance to qualify. The International Olympic Committee said this week it was "fully committed" to holding the Games from July 24 despite the coronavirus pandemic, but acknowledged there was no "ideal" solution as pressure mounted for a postponement. Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant confirmed that all tournaments across the continent had been suspended until at least the end of May, in line with the US PGA and European Tours. "I think everyone right now is more in a state of shock, just trying to figure out what they do with themselves," said Cho, speaking by telephone from Asian Tour headquarters in Singapore. With the prospect of scarcely any competitive golf before the Olympic rankings qualifying cut-off on June 22, Cho said it would be harsh on players from unheralded golf nations. "Our plan initially was to have about 16 or 17 tournaments before the Olympic cut-off," Cho said. "Today, we probably have only about four or five Asian Tour players eligible for the Olympics." - Olympics 'highly unlikely' - On current rankings, only Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond and Gunn Charoenkul, the Indian pair of Rashid Khan and Udayan Mane plus Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines would represent the Asian Tour in the 60-strong Tokyo field. "Given the amount of golf that was left to be played, we were hopeful that more players from nations like Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines would have the opportunity to get into the Olympics over the next two or three months," said Cho. "Obviously, that's not going to happen. "I can understand why they would want to push forward with the Olympics -- there'd be huge revenue ramifications on the economy of Japan -- but it seems highly unlikely now in my opinion." Cho said that he hadn't yet heard of any players suffering financial hardship but acknowledged that a long layoff could have an impact. Players such as the world number 39 Jazz, last year's Asian Tour order of merit winner, will remain in the US where he had been due to play a full schedule before a debut at the now-postponed US Masters next month. "I keep in contact with quite a few players and a lot of them are comfortable," Cho said. "I feel for the guys who just came through qualifying school and they've probably played one or two events in their life. "It's very different to having a bad season where you're missing cuts, but you still have got the opportunity to compete. "Right now you're deprived of the opportunity to compete. That's a whole different ballgame." - Calendar shift - The Asian Tour can play all-year round, which means the crisis could lead to a permanent shift in the Asian golfing calendar to a wraparound season played from September to April. "A tour like Europe's going to have a lot harder time rescheduling events. Theirs is a very short golf season," Cho said. "I'm hoping that we can continue golf this year, whether it be July, September, October or November. It will definitely help mitigate the potential downside. "If we could start between July and October, it means we will probably go through to April. We've been planning a wraparound season for the longest time but never really formalised it. "We're talking to sponsors and promoters. They're definitely ready to go. They're prepared to stage events whenever the world is ready to get back to normal."

Asian golfers could lose out if Olympics go ahead: Tour chief

Former Australian spinner and a legend of gentlemen’s game, Shane Warne has decided to turn his gin distillery into a hand sanitizer factory to provide continuous supply to two of Western Australia’s hospital at cost. The move by Warne comes to help with the supply of hand sanitizers to Australians as the situation surrounding the novel coronavirus continues to escalate with each passing day.&nbsp;

SevenZeroEight, Warne’s gin distillery company named after the number of his Test wickets, has already production of its gin this week in a bid to produce grade 70 per cent alcohol hand sanitizers for Western Australian hospitals in this dire situation. The decision by Warne come along with the company’s co-founders, which have two Western Australian surgical specialists at their helm.

ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/everything-just-seemed-to-escalate-dale-steyn-shares-his-experience-in-pakistan-amid-coronavirus-scare-287372">&nbsp;'Everything just seemed to escalate...' - Dale Steyn shares his experience in Pakistan amid coronavirus scare</a>

"This is a challenging time for Australians and we all need to do what we can to help our healthcare system combat this disease and save lives," said Warne in a statement, whose company will solely produce hand sanitizer from March 17 until further notice, while adding, "I am happy SevenZeroEight has the ability to make this shift and encourage others to do the same."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
So proud of all the team <a href="https://twitter.com/708gin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@708gin</a> as this is awesome ! I’m so glad we could do this and help everyone ! Choose helping followers. Love you all <a href="https://t.co/xuNJoR1Pam">pic.twitter.com/xuNJoR1Pam</a>
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaneWarne/status/1240506689603792896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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It is not the first time that Warne had helped out in a time of crisis. Earlier, the legendary leg-spinner had put his iconic Baggy Greens for auction in a bid to raise funds for the Australia Bushfire disaster relief programs. Warne’s famous cap was sold for a whopping $1,007,500 by Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-tendulkar-urges-everyone-to-draw-lessons-from-test-cricket-to-tackle-covid-19-287309">Sachin Tendulkar urges everyone to draw lessons from Test cricket to tackle COVID-19</a>

As of Thursday, Australia has reported at least 565 positive coronavirus cases with six casualties.

Former Australian spinner and a legend of gentlemen’s game, Shane Warne has decided to turn his gin distillery into a hand sanitizer factory to provide continuous supply to two of Western Australia’s hospital at cost.

Former Australian spinner and a legend of gentlemen’s game, Shane Warne has decided to turn his gin distillery into a hand sanitizer factory to provide continuous supply to two of Western Australia’s hospital at cost. The move by Warne comes to help with the supply of hand sanitizers to Australians as the situation surrounding the novel coronavirus continues to escalate with each passing day. SevenZeroEight, Warne’s gin distillery company named after the number of his Test wickets, has already production of its gin this week in a bid to produce grade 70 per cent alcohol hand sanitizers for Western Australian hospitals in this dire situation. The decision by Warne come along with the company’s co-founders, which have two Western Australian surgical specialists at their helm. ALSO READ: 'Everything just seemed to escalate...' - Dale Steyn shares his experience in Pakistan amid coronavirus scare "This is a challenging time for Australians and we all need to do what we can to help our healthcare system combat this disease and save lives," said Warne in a statement, whose company will solely produce hand sanitizer from March 17 until further notice, while adding, "I am happy SevenZeroEight has the ability to make this shift and encourage others to do the same." So proud of all the team @708gin as this is awesome ! I’m so glad we could do this and help everyone ! Choose helping followers. Love you all pic.twitter.com/xuNJoR1Pam — Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 19, 2020 × It is not the first time that Warne had helped out in a time of crisis. Earlier, the legendary leg-spinner had put his iconic Baggy Greens for auction in a bid to raise funds for the Australia Bushfire disaster relief programs. Warne’s famous cap was sold for a whopping $1,007,500 by Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn. ALSO READ: Sachin Tendulkar urges everyone to draw lessons from Test cricket to tackle COVID-19 As of Thursday, Australia has reported at least 565 positive coronavirus cases with six casualties.

Amid coronavirus pandemic, Shane Warne turns gin business into hand sanitiser factory

At a time when the entire sporting world has come to an unusual halt amid the coronavirus pandemic, players have decided to go into self-isolation in a bid to maintain social distancing as per health advisory. Veteran South African pacer Dale Steyn, who returned back home mid-way from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020, which was postponed just ahead of semi-finals of the tournament, said the matter surrounding the COVID-19 escalated within 24-48 hours and suddenly it became the biggest thing.&nbsp;

With World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the novel a pandemic, foreign players plying trade in PSL 2020 decided to fly back home even the tournament was called off. Steyn said he didn’t want to break any protocol and leave cricket in Pakistan in jeopardy because of ‘something stupid’ and hence, he followed the advisory.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-zealand-cricket-players-and-support-staff-go-into-self-isolation-after-returning-from-australia-287346">New Zealand cricket players and support staff go into self-isolation after returning from Australia</a>

<h2>As the week went on, everything just seemed to escalate</h2>

“It happened really quickly. I was in Pakistan but it was raining [Steyn played for Islamabad United]. We were under that kind of hotel arrest - advised not to go out and wander the streets, which is totally fine; I don't want to break protocol and [have] something happen and be blamed for cricket never being played in Pakistan again because I did something stupid!” Steyn told a leading cricket portal.&nbsp;

“As the week went on, everything just seemed to escalate. In the space of 24-48 hours, we went from nobody talking about coronavirus to, suddenly, everyone had a hand sanitiser and it was the biggest thing,” the veteran Proteas speedster added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-india-cant-look-beyond-ms-dhoni-if-he-is-fit-and-firing-wasim-jaffer-287325">Team India can't look beyond MS Dhoni if he is fit and firing: Wasim Jaffer</a>

Furthermore, Steyn urged everyone to follow the health advisory and maintain personal hygiene. He added by saying that helping yourself is the best possible way to curb the COVID-19.

“Stay healthy, wash your hands, look after yourself, don't be greedy. Right now they are saying old people are really struggling, so if in a position to help, rather help them than help yourself. Pretty simple, really,” Steyn concluded. 
&nbsp;

At a time when the entire sporting world has come to an unusual halt amid the coronavirus pandemic, players have decided to go into self-isolation in a bid to maintain social distancing as per health advisory.

At a time when the entire sporting world has come to an unusual halt amid the coronavirus pandemic, players have decided to go into self-isolation in a bid to maintain social distancing as per health advisory. Veteran South African pacer Dale Steyn, who returned back home mid-way from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020, which was postponed just ahead of semi-finals of the tournament, said the matter surrounding the COVID-19 escalated within 24-48 hours and suddenly it became the biggest thing. With World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the novel a pandemic, foreign players plying trade in PSL 2020 decided to fly back home even the tournament was called off. Steyn said he didn’t want to break any protocol and leave cricket in Pakistan in jeopardy because of ‘something stupid’ and hence, he followed the advisory. ALSO READ: New Zealand cricket players and support staff go into self-isolation after returning from Australia As the week went on, everything just seemed to escalate “It happened really quickly. I was in Pakistan but it was raining [Steyn played for Islamabad United]. We were under that kind of hotel arrest - advised not to go out and wander the streets, which is totally fine; I don't want to break protocol and [have] something happen and be blamed for cricket never being played in Pakistan again because I did something stupid!” Steyn told a leading cricket portal. “As the week went on, everything just seemed to escalate. In the space of 24-48 hours, we went from nobody talking about coronavirus to, suddenly, everyone had a hand sanitiser and it was the biggest thing,” the veteran Proteas speedster added. ALSO READ: Team India can't look beyond MS Dhoni if he is fit and firing: Wasim Jaffer Furthermore, Steyn urged everyone to follow the health advisory and maintain personal hygiene. He added by saying that helping yourself is the best possible way to curb the COVID-19. “Stay healthy, wash your hands, look after yourself, don't be greedy. Right now they are saying old people are really struggling, so if in a position to help, rather help them than help yourself. Pretty simple, really,” Steyn concluded.

'Everything just seemed to escalate...' - Dale Steyn shares his experience in Pakistan amid coronavirus scare

Skepticism is sweeping through the world but the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Thursday backed the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) assertion that the upcoming Tokyo Olympics will weather the COVID-19 pandemic and be held on schedule, without a glitch.&nbsp;

The IOC and the Tokyo Games organisers are adamant that the Olympics will start on July 24 as scheduled, despite the coronavirus pandemic crippling health care systems and destroying economies across the world.&nbsp;

"The coronavirus is creating havoc throughout the world but we are hopeful it will be contained in one or two months. It has already been controlled in China, the epicenter of the disease; and we are expecting the Olympics to be held without any hindrance on its scheduled time," a senior IOA office-bearer said.&nbsp;

"But having said that, IOC is our parent body, (so) we will have to abide by what the IOC decides. If the IOC says the Olympics will go on, we will have to participate irrespective of any threat," he said.&nbsp;

The IOC's stance has angered many athletes, who have accused it of putting them at risk. Some officials have also expressed their apprehension. Responding to the criticism, the world body on Wednesday conceded that there are no easy solutions for the current situation.&nbsp;

The pandemic, which has caused more than 8,000 deaths since being discovered in China, has wreaked havoc on Olympic preparations of athletes, including those from India. Several qualifiers have been suspended and training trips abroad are off the table thanks to COVID-19 travel restrictions.&nbsp;

The IOA admitted that country's preparations have been hit hard but should the Games happen, it is nonetheless expecting an unprecedented double-digit medal haul from the athletes. "Yes, it is true our preparations have been hit with many Olympic qualifiers, Test events and preparatory camps abroad being postponed or cancelled because of the coronavirus," the official said.&nbsp;

"But it is not just India, every country is facing the same situation so, the impact is same for every competing nation. So our expectations still remain the same -- 10 or more medals in Tokyo," he asserted. He said the IOA is closely monitoring the situation with all the stakeholders in the country.&nbsp; 
"We are monitoring all our athletes' preparations as well as their well-being. We are also closely working with the Government of India, Tokyo Games orgainsers as well as the IOC in this tough time," he said.&nbsp;

The number of people infected with the highly contagious novel coronavirus has gone past 160 in India with three deaths reported in the country so far. The total number of cases reported worldwide so far stand at more than 218,800. 
<o:p></o:p>

Skepticism is sweeping through the world but the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Thursday backed the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) assertion that the upcoming Tokyo Olympics will weather the COVID-19 pandemic and be held on schedule, without a glitch.

Skepticism is sweeping through the world but the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Thursday backed the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) assertion that the upcoming Tokyo Olympics will weather the COVID-19 pandemic and be held on schedule, without a glitch. The IOC and the Tokyo Games organisers are adamant that the Olympics will start on July 24 as scheduled, despite the coronavirus pandemic crippling health care systems and destroying economies across the world. "The coronavirus is creating havoc throughout the world but we are hopeful it will be contained in one or two months. It has already been controlled in China, the epicenter of the disease; and we are expecting the Olympics to be held without any hindrance on its scheduled time," a senior IOA office-bearer said. "But having said that, IOC is our parent body, (so) we will have to abide by what the IOC decides. If the IOC says the Olympics will go on, we will have to participate irrespective of any threat," he said. The IOC's stance has angered many athletes, who have accused it of putting them at risk. Some officials have also expressed their apprehension. Responding to the criticism, the world body on Wednesday conceded that there are no easy solutions for the current situation. The pandemic, which has caused more than 8,000 deaths since being discovered in China, has wreaked havoc on Olympic preparations of athletes, including those from India. Several qualifiers have been suspended and training trips abroad are off the table thanks to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The IOA admitted that country's preparations have been hit hard but should the Games happen, it is nonetheless expecting an unprecedented double-digit medal haul from the athletes. "Yes, it is true our preparations have been hit with many Olympic qualifiers, Test events and preparatory camps abroad being postponed or cancelled because of the coronavirus," the official said. "But it is not just India, every country is facing the same situation so, the impact is same for every competing nation. So our expectations still remain the same -- 10 or more medals in Tokyo," he asserted. He said the IOA is closely monitoring the situation with all the stakeholders in the country. "We are monitoring all our athletes' preparations as well as their well-being. We are also closely working with the Government of India, Tokyo Games orgainsers as well as the IOC in this tough time," he said. The number of people infected with the highly contagious novel coronavirus has gone past 160 in India with three deaths reported in the country so far. The total number of cases reported worldwide so far stand at more than 218,800.

If 2020 Tokyo Olympics happen, India will have to participate irrespective of any threat: IOA official

All the players and coaching staff of the New Zealand cricket team have been put under 14-day self-isolation following their return to their homeland from Australia amid the coronavirus pandemic. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Thursday confirmed that all the 15 players and staff members who returned from Australia last weekend have been put under lockdown at their respective residences following Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s statement on March 18.&nbsp;

The New Zealand prime minister had directed all the travelers to self-isolate for at least 14 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic even if they arrive in the country ahead of Saturday’s cut-off time.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-tendulkar-urges-everyone-to-draw-lessons-from-test-cricket-to-tackle-covid-19-287309">Sachin Tendulkar urges everyone to draw lessons from Test cricket to tackle COVID-19</a>

<h2 class="MsoNormal">New Zealand cricket players go into self-isolation</h2>

“They [Black Caps players and touring staff] have all gone into self-isolation. We’ve passed on all the details about what self-isolation means and as far as we know they’re all following it strictly,” NZC public affairs manager, Richard Boock said.&nbsp;

New Zealand and Australia had started the Chappell-Hadlee series behind closed doors but the three-match ODI series was called off after the completion of the first ODI which Australia won by 71 runs at the empty Sydney Cricket Ground.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-india-cant-look-beyond-ms-dhoni-if-he-is-fit-and-firing-wasim-jaffer-287325">Team India can't look beyond MS Dhoni if he is fit and firing: Wasim Jaffer</a>

While there were reports that Kiwi speedster Lockie Ferguson had shown symptoms of COVID-19, he tested negative and was eventually sent back to New Zealand immediately.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, all sporting events have been either cancelled or postponed amid the coronavirus scare. However, the good news in this dire situation is that no cricketer has been tested positive for the novel coronavirus thus far.&nbsp; 
<o:p></o:p>

All the players and coaching staff of the New Zealand cricket team have been put under 14-day self-isolation following their return to their homeland from Australia amid the coronavirus pandemic.

All the players and coaching staff of the New Zealand cricket team have been put under 14-day self-isolation following their return to their homeland from Australia amid the coronavirus pandemic. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Thursday confirmed that all the 15 players and staff members who returned from Australia last weekend have been put under lockdown at their respective residences following Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s statement on March 18. The New Zealand prime minister had directed all the travelers to self-isolate for at least 14 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic even if they arrive in the country ahead of Saturday’s cut-off time. ALSO READ: Sachin Tendulkar urges everyone to draw lessons from Test cricket to tackle COVID-19 New Zealand cricket players go into self-isolation “They [Black Caps players and touring staff] have all gone into self-isolation. We’ve passed on all the details about what self-isolation means and as far as we know they’re all following it strictly,” NZC public affairs manager, Richard Boock said. New Zealand and Australia had started the Chappell-Hadlee series behind closed doors but the three-match ODI series was called off after the completion of the first ODI which Australia won by 71 runs at the empty Sydney Cricket Ground. ALSO READ: Team India can't look beyond MS Dhoni if he is fit and firing: Wasim Jaffer While there were reports that Kiwi speedster Lockie Ferguson had shown symptoms of COVID-19, he tested negative and was eventually sent back to New Zealand immediately. Meanwhile, all sporting events have been either cancelled or postponed amid the coronavirus scare. However, the good news in this dire situation is that no cricketer has been tested positive for the novel coronavirus thus far.

New Zealand cricket players and support staff go into self-isolation after returning from Australia

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