HARARE, Zimbabwe - Canada's cricket team has cancelled its tour to Zimbabwe this month due to a cholera outbreak in the African country.
Zimbabwe Cricket spokesman Lovemore Banda told The Associated Press on Monday that the tour, scheduled to run from March 18 to 26, was off after the Canadian government issued a health warning for Zimbabwe.
"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 Zimbabwe Crickt this week.
A serious cholera outbreak inside Zimbabwe has resulted in more than 3,000 deaths. But Zimbabwe cricket officials insist touring teams are not at risk of contracting the disease because of better sanitary conditions available to professional athletes and tourists.
The series of one-day matches would have been the Canadians' first major overseas tour against a full member country of the ICC. The matches were also going to serve as tune-ups for the upcoming World Cup qualifying tournament, which begins April 1 in South Africa.
Last month, New Zealand's July tour of Zimbabwe was postponed after the Kiwi government raised safety and health concerns. Zimbabwe officials immediately announced India as replacements for a tri-series that is also expected to feature Kenya.
