New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Friday decided against cancelling its A team's tour of India in August despite the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, saying it is "too early at this point" even as it applied for government wage subsidy scheme to assist payments to its employees.
The NZC, however, conceded that the Black Caps' winter tours of the Netherlands, Scotland, Ireland and the West Indies -- in June and July -- are now in serious doubt. However, it felt that it was too early to "categorically rule it out".
NZC chief executive David White confirmed the postponement of the women's team's tour to Sri Lanka, scheduled to start later this month.
"Clearly, this situation is extremely disappointing for everyone involved in sport but, given the bigger picture, and the terrible toll COVID-19 is taking worldwide, we need to look after not only our own people but the greater community good," said White.
He also said there were question-marks over the Black Caps' tour to Bangladesh in August.
"Cricket in New Zealand has been fortunate in that we were very much at the end of our home summer programme when this crisis struck. However, with the lockdown now in full force, we're mindful of the difficulties facing our cricket community."
He said NZC was applying for the Government Wage Subsidy Scheme "to assist in navigating the next 12 weeks."
"However, we'll continue to closely monitor the effects on the wider cricket family."
"We look forward to recognising and congratulating our outstanding players, officials, volunteers, coaches and administrators for the 2019-20 season in a fitting way, despite the restrictions and limitations of the current climate."