Pakistan vs West Indies: PCB, CWI postpone ODI series after multiple COVID-19 cases among visitors

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have postponed the three-match One-Day International series due to multiple cases of COVID-19 in the visitors’ camp although the T20 International series was completed on Thursday. In a joint statement issued on Thursday during the ongoing third and final T20 International in Karachi, the PCB and CWI said that after Wednesday’s RT-PCR test results emerged, the number of COVID-19 positive cases has risen up to nine. “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,” PCB-CWI said in joint statement. “This will provide the West Indies with an equal opportunity to field their best available players for the World Cup qualification matches.” [caption id=“attachment_10217311” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  West Indies’ Brandon King, left, plays a shot while Pakistan’s wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan watches during the second T20I in Karachi. AP[/caption] The West Indies players who returned with negative tests will depart late on Thursday after the completion of the third T20 International. “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. “Those who have tested positive will complete their isolation in Karachi before their travel arrangements are finalised to allow them to rejoin their families in time for Christmas celebrations,’ the joint statement said. “Meanwhile, the Pakistan team members, all of whom have returned PCR negative after Wednesday’s tests, will also be leaving the Managed Event Environment after tonight’s third T20I.” The 21 Tests that were conducted on Thursday morning before the match turned out to be negative after which permission to go ahead with the game was given. “On Thursday morning and as part of the PCB COVID-19 Protocols, Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) 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. As such, Thursday’s T20 International (T20I) proceeded as planned. Before this series the PCB was also forced to postpone its Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this year in Karachi due to Covid-19 positive cases among players and officials of franchises and board. Earlier Covid-19 positive cases have also led to the postponement of the final Test between India and England this summer in England while earlier also England had returned from South Africa due to Covid-19 cases.