Pakistan-West Indies ODI series postponed to June 2022
West Indies and Pakistan were scheduled to play a three matches ODI series against each other starting from December 18. However, as per the recent turn of events, it is been reported that the ODIs have been postponed to and rescheduled for early June 2022. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) issued a joint statement to inform about the same.
The decision was taken after a few Windies players tested positive for COVID-19 during the ongoing three-match T20I series. The boards of the respective countries thus took this decision after having considered the welfare of both the teams as well as the limited resources in the West Indies team for the ODIs.
As per the statement, post Wednesday’s, December 15 PCR testing five more players tested positive for Covid 19 taking the tally of the total positive cases in the camp to nine since their arrival in Karachi on December 9. The positive cases in the camp had cast doubts on the final T20I between the two teams. However after the fresh round of tests came negative, the match was resumed.
It is also been reported that those who have tested positive will complete their isolation period in Karachi before their travel arrangements are been organized in order to allow them to regroup with their families in time for Christmas celebrations. Whereas on the other hand, the Pakistan team members all of whom have returned with PCR negative after Wednesday’s tests will also be leaving after today’s final T20I.
“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. 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.
The West Indies team members, who returned negative results following Wednesday’s PCR and today’s Rapid Antigen tests, will depart from Pakistan after tonight’s match. The CWI would like to thank the PCB for its excellent series arrangements and appreciates its support in rescheduling the ODI series in June 2022,” the statement read.