The three-match ODI series between India and South Africa has been cancelled without a ball being bowled.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed that the two remaining ODIs between India and South Africa in Lucknow and Kolkata have been called off owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier the first match in Dharamsala on Thursday had been completely washed out.

A statement from the BCCI said that South Africa will return to India at a later date to play three ODIs, with the BCCI and Cricket South Africa to work out a revised schedule.

"The BCCI along with the the Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Friday announced to reschedule the ongoing ODI series in view of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Cricket South Africa will visit India at a later date to play three One-day Internationals. The BCCI-CSA will jointly work out the revised schedule," the BCCI said in a statement.

A top BCCI official revealed that the cancellation of the Indian Premier League (IPL) inspired them to call off the international series as well.

"With the IPL being postponed, it only made sense that at this point of time, this series is also called off. The country is facing a serious pandemic," he said.

India, the world's second most populous country after China, has reported 81 cases so far with one death from COVID-19, while the global infected count is standing at over 1,00,000.