Gloucestershire cancel Spain pre-season trip

The club were due to face Glamorgan in two T20 matches and a two-day game in Murcia, but they have now made the decision not to travel based on advice from relevant health authorities and experts

• Coronavirus and cricket: Tours and competitions postponed, cancelled and affected by Covid-19

Gloucestershire have become the latest county to cancel their pre-season tour because of the global outbreak of Covid-19, with their trip to La Manga now called off.

Hampshire and Warwickshire have already flown to Spain, while Glamorgan are scheduled to fly out on March 19.

The squad was expected to arrive on March 18, before coming home nine days later ahead of their return to the County Championship’s top flight.

Gloucestershire were due to face Glamorgan in two T20 matches and a two-day game in Murcia, but they have now made the decision not to travel based on advice from relevant health authorities and experts.

Club chief executive Will Brown said: “The welfare of our employees and players is paramount to all at Gloucestershire Cricket. As such we think it is not advisable for our tour to go ahead to La Manga at this time.

“We would like to thank the La Manga resort, the PCA and all of the coaching and playing squads for all of their support and understanding and we look forward to returning to La Manga next year.”

Several other counties have also cancelled their tours; neither Worcestershire nor Somerset will now travel to Abu Dhabi, while Lancashire became the first club to cancel their trip when they opted out of camps in South Africa and Dubai.

Surrey, who were also due to go to Dubai, are now remaining on home soil.

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