The first one-day international between England and South Africa has been called off after two members of hotel staff tested positive for coronavirus.
The match had already been postponed from Friday to Sunday after an unnamed South African player tested positive for Covid-19.
The game was due to begin at 8am UK time in Paarl but less than an hour before that start time, the contest has been scrapped.
England and South Africa are due to play two more ODIs, on Monday and Wednesday, but they are now in doubt and look increasingly unlikely to go ahead.
The touring squad are due to fly back to the UK on Thursday.
An ECB statement initially read: ‘Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have agreed to delay the start time for today’s [Sunday’s] One-Day International match, which is due to take place in Paarl.
‘The England players and management underwent an additional round of PCR tests on Saturday evening, after two members of the hotel staff testing positive for COVID-19.
‘Whilst the ECB awaits ratification of those test results the decision has been taken to delay the start of today’s ODI match.’
However, the match was called off shortly afterwards and now the rest of the series is in jeopardy.
The touring squad has been living in a bio-secure bubble in Cape Town, only leaving to train and play matches and with the positive test results coming from within that bubble, it may prove too dangerous to continue the tour.
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