Far South Coast Cricket will not return this weekend as planned with association president Charles Aggenbach delaying the return for welfare of clubs and players.
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Mr Aggenbach said he "essentially made the decision on my own" after nearly every association committee member was either part of evacuations this week or had fire-fighting commitments.
He said he had since received some negative comments, but said his primary focus was on player safety and ensuring those displaced by evacuations continued to have safe harbour with many camped out on association grounds.
Mr Aggenbach said he would take the criticisms on the chin, but would be reaching out to each club president ahead of the weekend to discuss if safe to resume next weekend or whether the delay needed to persist for two or more weeks.
He said every association ground in the area was being used as an evacuation centre, or overflow for evacuatees with caravans and campers.
"Hopefully it will only be one week so three games will be affected ... while cricket is a key summer sport and could be influential in bringing communities back together, it needs to take a back seat at the moment," Mr Aggenbach said.
"It was my decision to pull the pin for player safety, hopefully it's just the weekend."
Second division cricket is already not due to return until February 1 alongside the junior competition.
Mr Aggenbach said he welcomed the rain on Monday and hoped it could ease some of the firegrounds and help people to return home.
He said the communities of Mallacoota and Dalmeny had lost a great deal this week, while many in Tathra were also feeling the effects around another fire tragedy.
Cricket ACT have supported the move, while other fire-affected areas are following suit and also delaying their return matches.
Mr Aggenbach said with rain helping fire-fighters he hoped the fires could be brought under control swiftly, but the association will also confer with council around ground and smoke conditions moving forward.
Readers will be alerted when regular matches are able to return as normal, with Mr Aggenbach hopeful for January 18.