Durham abandon Zimbabwe pre-season tour

The club were due to remain in the country until March 29 but the decision has been taken for the group to return ahead of schedule

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Durham will return home early from their pre-season tour of Zimbabwe in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The club flew out to Harare on March 9 and were not due to return until March 29.

Despite no player having shown symptoms of COVID-19 the Chester-le-Street club have decided to cut the tour short amid growing restrictions over global travel.

Director of cricket Marcus North said: “The health and safety of our players coaches and staff is the main consideration in any decision we make.

“Due to the potential travel disruption and uncertainty around the ongoing situation it is in the best interest of everyone to bring the travelling party back to the UK at this time.

“We would like to thank Cricket Zimbabwe for their support and guidance and we look forward to having everyone home safe and well in the next few days."

All players, coaching staff and club officials will return to England at the earliest available opportunity.

The decision brings the number of clubs to have cancelled or altered their pre-season plans due to the virus to 15.