The Sheffield Shield clash between Queensland and Tasmania has been postponed after four mystery Covid-19 cases appeared in Queensland, with Tasmania opting to fly home to Hobart.
Queensland was due to host Tasmania at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane starting at 10am on Tuesday but the match was postponed shortly before 9.30am after the Covid-19 cases were reported.
Cricket Australia released a statement regarding the fixture.
"Cricket Australia advises that the Marsh Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and Tasmania at Ian Healy Oval, due to begin today, has been postponed, " the statement said.
"The match will be rescheduled to a new date later in the season, following the Tasmanian team's decision to fly home today.
"Further updates regarding the scheduled Marsh One-Day Cup match between the two sides, due to be played this Sunday, October 3, will be provided in due course."
"Cricket Australia and all State and Territory Associations will continue to make the health and safety of our players, staff, match officials, fans and the wider community our top priority as we look to execute a safe and successful summer of cricket."
Cricket Tasmania released a statement on social media outlining the reasons for flying their team home to Hobart.
"Cricket Tasmania has made the decision to return their Tasmanian Tigers Marsh Sheffield Shield and One-Day squads to Tasmania today. This is not a decision that was taken lightly.
"While the situation in Queensland hasn't prevent the match from commencing today, a cautious and considered approach is being taken and it is our strong opinion that we are better having our players and staff home as we build a better understanding of the current landscape.
"We look forward to playing the Queensland Bulls at the first opportunity. We thank [Queensland Cricket] and [Cricket Australia] for their understanding and flexibility with this match postponement, and we hope that this preventative measure will, with hindsight, not have been required."
Cricket Australia is struggling to get Australia's men's domestic competitions off the ground this season due to Covid-19 outbreaks in New South Wales, Victoria and now Queensland. State borders are closed to NSW and Victoria with both men's teams still stuck in their home states. There has only been one Sheffield Shield match and one Marsh Cup match played so far between South Australia and Western Australia in Adelaide. There are no fixtures scheduled beyond this week's matches between Queensland and Tasmania.
There are plans afoot for both NSW and Victoria's teams exit their states on October 4 and undergo 14-days hotel quarantine in South Australia before beginning their seasons around the 25th of October, but they are yet to be finalised.
If today's cases in Queensland sparked an outbreak it would reduce CA's options for scheduling fixtures, with Western Australia, Tasmania, and South Australia the only three states capable of hosting matches between each other in the immediate short-term.
It has been 50 days since Queensland has had a community Covid-19 case and the state has provided a safe haven for Cricket Australia to host the women's multi-format series between Australia and India. The day-night Test is due to start on Thursday on the Gold Coast, one hour south of Brisbane.
The National Rugby League Grand Final is also due to be played in Brisbane on Sunday in front of a crowd and Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed on Tuesday morning that it would still go ahead at this stage pending any changes to health advice from her government.