Download the all-new Republic app:

Published 10:38 IST, March 12th 2020

Road Safety World Series: Entire Pune leg called off amidst coronavirus threat

The Road Safety World Series may have hit a major speedbump as it is being reported that the tournament's Pune matches have been indefinitely postponed.

Reported by: Mrigank Pandey
Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

Indian cricket fans are now feeling the first consequences of the Coronavirus epidemic as the well-received Road Safety World Series will now be played inside closed doors while some of its matches have been postponed indefinitely. The tournament began last Saturday to much fanfare at the Wankhede Stadium as crowds saw the return of local heroes like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Here are the details about the fate of the tournament.

ALSO READ | Road Safety World Series: Mohd Kaif turns back the clock with thrilling catch; watch video

Advertisement

Road Safety World Series to be left incomplete due to Coronavirus epidemic?

The Road Safety World Series began on March 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and then moved on to the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The tournament was scheduled to move to Pune for four matches before it returned to Navi Mumbai to conclude the tournament with two final matches. It is now being reported that due to the Coronavirus epidemic, the Maharashtra government is deciding to cancel all public gatherings and these cricket matches have come under the radar.

ALSO READ | Virender Sehwag trolls Sachin Tendulkar for bowling first in Road Safety World Series game

Advertisement

The tournament has been widely popular and the first match saw an attendance of 26,000 fans in Mumbai. If the reports are to be believed, the Pune leg of the tournament has been called off for now and its future remains uncertain. The final two matches, which were set to happen in Navi Mumbai, may also be played without an audience. The India Legends team was doing pretty well in the tournament and won both their matches.

ALSO READ | Road Safety World Series: Zaheer Khan does a Ravindra Jadeja with super one-handed catch

Advertisement

Virender Sehwag helped India Legends win their first match against the West Indies and in the match against Sri Lanka, Irfan Pathan rose to the occasion and played a match-winning knock. However, the India vs. South Africa ODI at Dharmasala on Thursday is being played in front of an audience. Currently, there is heavy speculation regarding the future and the scheduling of IPL 2020 which is due to begin on March 29. IPL 2020's first match is set to be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

ALSO READ | Road Safety World Series schedule: Here's the entire list of fixtures for the tournament

Advertisement

10:38 IST, March 12th 2020