Cricket: Nigerian team closes camp as coronavirus forces shift of African championship

The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) on Monday closed camping of the senior national team after Africa Cricket Association (ACA) announced that the African T-20 championship billed to start in Nairobi, Kenya on March 20, has been postponed.

The tournament was postponed due to rising global concerns around coronavirus COVID-19.

The African cricket body also said its decision to postpone the event was reached in conjunction with the government of Kenya.

The Nigerian team had opened camp in Lagos on February 29, with a training tour of Zimbabwe also lined up before the Kenya championship.

But in a statement jointly signed by Cassim Suliman, ACA’s chief executive, and Jackie Jan Mohamed, the chairperson, the association said the postponement was “until further notice.”

“Please be advised that after in-depth communications with local and international authorities aimed ensuring the safety of all concerned both domestically and internationally, we regret to say the participation members who are competing in the ACA T20 Africa Cup Kenya 2020 has been postponed until further notice,” the statement read.

“The ACA respects the position of the Government of Kenya and supports all efforts that safeguard the country against the possible entry of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We wish to say that our decision was taken in consultation with the health ministries of the participating countries.”

The association, however, said it would keep member countries abreast with developments around the event.

Meanwhile, the government of Kenya has with immediate effect banned all meetings, conferences and events of international nature in the country, even as it has issued a travel advisory to all Kenyans to avoid non-essential travel to high risk countries for conferences/meetings or events where more than 15 people would be gathering.

In his reaction to the latest development, Emeka Igwillo, general manager of the NCF, said the decision of the continental cricket body was in order.

He added that the Nigerian federation had complied by closing the players’ camp.

“I believe the postponement will douse tension around the event especially with the increase in the spread of Coronavirus around the world,” Igwillo said.

The postponed eight-nation championship was billed to feature Nigeria, Uganda, Cameroon, Ghana, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and host Kenya.