India's sports ministry has advised all the National Sports Federations, including BCCI, against public gathering in any sporting event © AFP
The remaining two ODIs between India and South Africa will be played in front of empty stands, the BCCI have announced. The decision comes on the heels of a COVID-19 advisory issued by India's sports ministry to all the National Sports Federations, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India, earlier in the day, advising them to "ensure that no public gathering takes place in any sporting event" in the country.

The advisory further stated that if the sporting event cannot be avoided, it should be held without the spectators. This could mean that the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League, in part or full, could take place in front of empty stands.

"You are advised to adhere to the advisories issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and ensure that no public gathering takes place in any sporting event," the Government of India release read. "In the event the sporting event cannot be avoided, the same could be done without allowing gathering of people, including spectators."


BCCI, in its press release later in the day, stated, "After holding discussions with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), the BCCI on Thursday announced that the remaining two One-day Internationals (ODIs) of the three-match series of South Africa tour of India, 2020, will be played without any public gathering, including spectators."

The IPL Governing Council is set to meet on Saturday to discuss the viability of hosting the tournament amidst the threat of COVID-19. The IPL is scheduled to begin on March 29.

BCCI, on its part, has been monitoring the situation. Ahead of the first ODI between India and South Africa in Dharamsala, the medical staff of the national set-up had briefed the players, team support staff, State Associations in relation to the standard guidelines handed out by the WHO and the government. The BCCI also asked the players to be careful about their interactions with fans. Even the players are set to bump fists instead of shaking hands during the ongoing India-South Africa series.

According to the WHO, the novel coronavirus has affected 118 nations so far. Around 120,000 people have been affected by the virus with over 4,300 deaths across the globe. In India, 73 people have been laid low by the virus. On Wednesday, the WHO also declared COVID-19 a pandemic.