The two remaining India-South Africa ODIs in Lucknow and Kolkata were on Friday called off owing to the COVID-19 threat after the visiting players “expressed unwillingness” to continue in view of the rising positive cases in the host country.

This is only the second time in three decades that an international cricket series in India has been called off midway, the last being in 2014 by the West Indies team over a pay dispute with its Board.

“The South African team was unwilling to take any further part in the series due to rising number of positive cases in India. The players seemed to be in panic mode and wanted to go back home at the earliest,” another Board official revealed on conditions on anonymity.

The BCCI later issued a statement to say that the series will be rescheduled at a later date.“The South African team will come to Delhi and leave by taking the earliest available flight,” he added.

The matches were earlier planned to be held behind closed doors due to the government directive, which asked for sporting events to be shut for fans in view of the pandemic.

Nearly six years ago, a Dwayne Bravo-led West Indies side abruptly called off its tour of India after a protracted payment structure dispute between the players, the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players’ Association.

Friday’s development comes a day after the BCCI held discussions with the sports and health ministries over organising the two remaining ODI matches behind closed doors.

Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government had expressed concerns over hosting the match in the state, where 11 people have tested positive for so far.

UP’s health minister Jai Pratap Singh wanted the match to be postponed and the Lucknow district administration advised against big gatherings.