The last two ODIs of the series against South Africa in Lucknow and Calcutta will be held behind closed doors.

After holding discussions with the ministry of youth affairs and sports and ministry of health and family welfare, the BCCI on Thursday announced that the remaining two ODIs “will be played without any public gathering, including spectators.”

The development comes in the wake of the Indian government directing the BCCI and other national sporting federations to “avoid” mass gatherings to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The Lucknow ODI is on Sunday and Eden Gardens will host the final ODI on March 18.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has already put ticket sales on hold with immediate effect, CAB president Avishek Dalmiya said at Nabanna on Thursday evening after a meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

The Bengal government has called a meeting on Friday to decide on the coming sporting events in the state after it received several advisories from the Centre. All sporting organisations of Bengal, including the CAB and Indian Football Association, have been invited.

ICC meeting

The International Cricket Council’s annual board meeting, scheduled in Dubai from March 26-29, will now be held via video conference . The full meetings of various committees will be held in May.