Video PlayerClose
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's men's basketball team has withdrawn from the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers to be held later this month due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malaysian Basketball Association (MABA) said Thursday.
After consultation with the National Sports Council (NSC), the MABA will adhere to the recommendations from the NSC not to send a team to the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers, the MABA said in a statement.
"This is due to the significant increase of COVID-19 outbreaks in the country, and the government having declared a Movement Control Order (MCO) throughout Malaysia commencing from January 13 till February 18, 2021," it said, adding that the association will always place the safety and health of the players and team officials in priority.
Malaysia is placed in Group B of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers with China, Japan and Chinese Taipei. The remaining matches of the group will be staged in Doha, Qatar between February 17 and 23.
However, Chinese Taipei men's basketball team has withdrawn from the qualifiers as it's unable to meet the requirement of having at least 10 participants due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem