The Bendigo District Cricket Association has withdrawn from the carnival citing COVID concerns.

"We've emailed the Victorian Country Cricket League to inform them that we won't be participating in Melbourne Country Week this year," BDCA president Travis Harling said on Thursday.

"Travelling to Melbourne, travelling on a bus, staying in accommodation, going out for dinner, it's just too risky in terms of COVID."

Melbourne Country Week is due to be held from February 14 to 18, with this being the 100^th year of the carnival.

There was no carnival played last year because of COVID, leaving 2020 winners Bendigo as the reigning Provincial Group champions.

Bendigo (6-223) defeated Ballarat (8-219) by four wickets in the final following a rain affected carnival in which Bendigo's Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday games were washed out without a ball being bowled.

READ MORE - COVID concern halts BDCA games and training for two weeks

Meanwhile, there will be no Bendigo Country Week carnival played for the second year in a row.

The BDCA has proposed a revamped carnival format to associations with divisional matches played on Sundays and culminating in a finals day in Bendigo.

Had the revised carnival gone ahead this season February 27 had been set as the date for the finals day.

READ MORE - Bendigo Country Week cricket carnival set for major overhaul

"We won't be going ahead with the carnival this year, but we'll look at the format again next year," Harling said.

"There's good support for the format, but as for this year associations are just concentrating on their own competition as a priority at the moment, which I totally understand."

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