New Zealand have qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) final later this year with Australia deciding to postpone their tour of South Africa, scheduled next month, owing to fears over Covid-19.

India, currently leaders of the WTC points table, need to win the upcoming series against England by at least a 2-1 margin to book a place in the final, slated for June, against second-placed New Zealand.

The announcement has dealt a blow to Australia’s chances of a place in the WTC final in England. Australia, currently third in the points table, needed to win two of the three Tests in South Africa and prevent their hosts from winning one, to ensure their spot in the inaugural WTC decider.

The Australian players were scheduled to fly out to South Africa this month for a three-Test series in March, but Cricket Australia said it had no choice but to postpone the trip due to “unacceptable health and safety risk”.

“This decision has not been made lightly and we are extremely disappointed, especially given the importance of continuing international cricket at this time,” CA’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley said in a statement.

Cricket South Africa described the development as “extremely disappointing”. Director of cricket Graeme Smith believes the Australian concerns are unfounded as everything was being done to meet “every single expectation of CA”.