Pakistan Cricket Board and West Indies Cricket on Thursday confirmed the ODI leg of the Pakistan tour will be postponed to July 2022 following multiple cases of Covid-19 in the tourists’ camp in Karachi.
The two teams went ahead with the 3rd and final T20I on Thursday despite 3 more players testing positive for the virus earlier in the day but the two boards have agreed to postpone the ODI series.A total of 9 members, including 5 players, of the West Indies camp in Karachi, tested positive for Covid-19 since their arrival in Karachi.
On Thursday, 5 members, including players Shai Hope, spinner Akeal Hosein and all-rounder Justin Greaves, were found to be positive after Wednesday’s tests. Fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell and all-rounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers had earlier tested positive after arriving in Pakistan.The two teams continued with the final T20I but the ODI series, scheduled right after the T20I series will be held on a later date, considering it is also part of the World Cup Super League.“ On Thursday morning and as part of the PCB COVID-19 Protocols, Rapid Antigen tests were conducted on the remaining 15 West Indies players and six player support personnel. All 21 members of the West Indies touring party returned negative test result. As such, Thursday’s T20 International (T20I) proceeded as planned,” the two boards said in a joint statement.“However, taking into consideration both the teams’ welfare as well as limited resources in the West Indies side for the ODIs, it has been agreed that the series, which forms part of the ICC Men’s Cricket Word Cup Super League, will be postponed and rescheduled for early June 2022.“This will provide the West Indies with an equal opportunity to field their best available players for the World Cup qualification matches.”
Covid positive players to complete isolation in Karachi
All West Indies players and members of the support staff who have tested negative for Covid-19 will depart for home after the 3rd T20I on Thursday.”Those who have tested positive will complete their isolation in Karachi before their travel arrangements are finalised to allow them to rejoin their families in time for Christmas celebration,” the statement added.Meanwhile, the Pakistan team members, all of whom have returned PCR negative after Wednesday’s tests, will also be leaving the Managed Event Environment after tonight’s third T20I.Pakistan have been making efforts to host big-ticket teams at home in a bid to host international cricket on a regular basis. The Asian nation hasn’t been able to consistently host teams ever since the terror attack on a Sri Lankan team bus in 2009.
Earlier this year, New Zealand and England cancelled their tours of Pakistan due to security concerns. New Zealand arrived in Rawalpindi and returned home hours ahead of the start of the first match of an ODI series.
