USA Cricket and Cricket Ireland have jointly agreed to the cancellation of the one-day international leg of the Dafabet USA v Ireland Men’s International Series over COVID-related concerns that have emerged Tuesday.
We are all devastated at today's news of the cancellation of the ODI Series
Our huge thanks to everyone at Cricket Ireland, all of the fans who turned out in record numbers during the T20I series and to all our players, volunteers, staff & stakeholders for supporting the series pic.twitter.com/Y5P3MmSpxb
— USA Cricket (@usacricket) December 28, 2021
The Ireland-West Indies series, which is scheduled to start in January next year, is currently in a state of uncertainty due to the fact that Covide 19 was positive on the Irish side.. That was followed by the cancellation of the tournament scheduled for Tuesday against Ireland and the United States.
The decision was made after two members of the Irish support staff have tested positive, as well as several partners of players, resulting in two of the Irish players being deemed as ‘close contacts’.
The Irish team was scheduled to leave for Jamaica for a Limited over tour of the West Indies on January next year. Richard Holdsworth, Ireland Cricket’s top performance director, said they had to make difficult decisions.
He also said that although this decision was a difficult one, it was clearly the right decision from the point of view of the health and safety of the athlete and the staff.
“The decision has been a difficult one to make, but clearly the right outcome from a player and staff health and safety perspective,”Holdsworth said.
” While there no positive covid results amongst the Irish players, we have had to support staff test positive and a number of traveling partners amd family members also testing positive. Thmhis has meant two players within our playing rank being deemed close contacts and habe been isolating while they are further tested and monitored.” he said.
He continued: ” From a broader perspective, consideration had to be given to the current seriesas well as the second leg of tour. We need to be mindful of travel requirements for entering jamaica and meeting Cricket west indies covid protocols.”
“Over the coming days we will priorities the helth and safety of our players and staff , and work with local officials in ensuring our people are well looked after whether preparing to travel onward to jamaica or having to remain in florida a little longer in isolation.” he added
Also, the ODI series against Pakistan was halted due to infection of several West Indies players and a number of assistants. However, there will be three ODIs against Ireland and one Twenty20 match each.