Canada cancels tour to Zimbabwe

Canada's cricket team has cancelled its tour to Zimbabwe this month due to health reasons.

Zimbabwe Cricket spokesman Lovemore Banda told The Associated Press on Monday that the one-day tour, scheduled to run from March 18-26, was off after the Canadian government issued a health warning for the African nation.

"We've cancelled the tour because there are concerns about Canada being able to field a strong side in Zimbabwe as well as taking into account the Canada government's health advisory for Zimbabwe at this time," the Canadian cricket board wrote to ZC this week.

A serious cholera outbreak inside Zimbabwe has resulted in more than 3,000 deaths. But ZC officials insist touring teams are not at risk of contracting the disease because of better sanitary conditions available to professional sportsmen and tourists.

The tour would have been the Canadians' first major overseas series against a full member country of the ICC. The matches were also going to form part of Canada's preparations for the World Cup qualifiers in April.

Last month, New Zealand's July tour of Zimbabwe was postponed after the Kiwi government raised safety and health concerns. ZC immediately announced India as replacements for a tri-series that is also expected to feature Kenya.

AP