West Indies, India squad members yet to get US visas for Florida T20Is
The Cricket West Indies (CWI) is planning for backup options to host the last two T20I matches against India. The last two matches of the ongoing five-match T20I series are scheduled to take place at Central Broward Regional Park in Florida, the USA on the 6th and 7th of August. But news reports suggest that personnel from both teams are yet to receive US visas for travel in time. So now CWI is planning to host both the games in the Caribbean as their plan B.
On Sunday, a CWI source revealed that players from both teams were supposed to receive their travel documents in St Kitts, where both teams have arrived for the next two games. Now it seems that both teams need to travel back to Trinidad to get their documents and if they are cleared, then they can take off to the US.
“Having the games in the Caribbean is not unlikely but efforts are being made to resolve the visa issue,” a source in West Indies Cricket said to Cricbuzz.
Cricket West Indies is exploring other options to host India in the last two T20I matches
Due to uncertainty over the last two matches, Cricket West Indies is already exploring other options but remains in pursuit of visas for both teams. Both teams faced the exact same situation in 2016 when the players received their US travel documents late. Interestingly, both teams were scheduled to play two matches in Florida, which is the only ICC-certified cricket stadium in the USA.
“There are options being explored while we continue to pursue the possibilities of receiving the outstanding visas,” said Ricky Skerritt, the president of the CWI.
India are leading the five-match series by 1-0 after beating the hosts by 68 runs in the first T20I match at Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago. The hosts will be looking for a comeback in the next match scheduled at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts on Monday.