Pakistan: ODI series with West Indies put off till June after COVID scare

Islamabad: In another major blow for Pakistan cricket, Pakistan Cricket Board’s chief operating officer Salman Naseer said on Thursday that in view of the West Indies players contracting COVID-19 during transit to Pakistan the three-match ODI series between the two teams starting this weekend will not go ahead.

The three-match ODI series, which is part of the Cricket World Cup Super League, were scheduled between December 18-22 in Karachi. The series will be rescheduled in June 2022.

However, West Indies players Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein and Justin Greaves along with assistant coach Roddy Estwick and physician Dr Akshai Mansingh returned Covid-19 positive on Wednesday. All five will remain in self isolation for 10 days or until they return a negative test.

A joint statement issued by the Cricket West Indies and Pakistan Cricket Board stated, "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 results."

West Indies' Roston Chase, Kyle Myers and Sheldon Cottrell had returned Covid-19 positive upon their arrival in Pakistan, which meant only 11 players were available out of the 18-member squad.

"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 World Cup Super League, will be postponed and rescheduled for early June 2022."

This is the third cricket series to fall by the wayside after New Zealand’s abandonment of the tour midway due to security risks and England’s subsequent withdrawal from their scheduled series due to what they said were mental health concerns earlier this year. (UNI)