Picture Credit: AFP
After the ICC Women's World Cup qualifying tournament was cancelled due to the new mutant of the dreaded Coronavirus, it is being learned that as many as six Sri Lanka women cricketers who took part in a game of the same tournament against Zimbabwe tested positive for COVID-19. The same was confirmed by the country's cricket board in a statement.
Notably, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had already abandoned the qualifiers in Zimbabwe after the discovery of the new variant called Omicron but it is still not clear if the infection in the Sri Lankan squad has happened because of the same variant. Earlier the world cricket governing body had reached upon this decision after Saturday's match between West Indies and Sri Lanka was called off when Sri Lankan support staff tested positive for the infection.
There was a serious risk that teams would be unable to return home: ICC
"We are incredibly disappointed to have to cancel the remainder of this event but with travel restrictions from a number of African countries being imposed at such short notice, there was a serious risk that teams would be unable to return home," Chris Tetley, the ICC head of events, said.
"We have explored a number of options to allow us to complete the event but it isn't feasible and we will fly the teams out of Zimbabwe as soon as possible," Tetley added.
Steps will be taken to bring back the Sri Lanka women's team from Zimbabwe: SLC
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka cricket board also stated that steps will be taken to bring back the Sri Lanka women's team from Zimbabwe.
"Steps will be taken to bring back the Sri Lanka women's team from Zimbabwe," the Sri Lankan cricket board (SLC) stated.
Notably, the detection of the new mutant variant in South Africa has forced some of the nations to tighten border controls and impose curbs on travel from South African countries including Zimbabwe. Post the cancellation of the World Cup qualifiers, the ICC has also informed that Bangladesh, Pakistan and the West Indies will be playing the World Cup in New Zealand owing to their superior rankings.
The abovementioned three countries will be joining New Zealand, Australia, India, England and South Africa in the main event. Apart from cricket, other sporting affairs have also been impacted with rugby teams and golfers being left with no other option than to leave the country.