The Basketball Africa League on Wednesday postponed the league’s inaugural season, which had been scheduled to tip off March 13 in Dakar, Senegal, due to the spread of the coronavirus.

A disappointed BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall in a statement expressed regret at the development, but is hopeful the league will commence soon.

The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation and the NBA, is a new professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa.

The BAL builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA has organised in Africa and marks the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside North America.