ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers currently underway in Harare, Zimbabwe, are under threat of being cancelled due to the new coronavirus variant in neighbouring South Africa.
The Omicron variant was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) by the South African government three days ago, with most cases being recorded from Gauteng Province.
As a result, the European Union, United Kingdom and Canada have introduced travel restrictions.
Similarly, according to the BBC, the United States of America will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other southern African countries, Zimbabwe included.
The other African countries where the USA has imposed a travel ban with effect from Monday are Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.
Back in Harare, sources have told EnterSportNews that the ICC mulls cancelling the games after today’s scheduled matches to allow teams to travel out to their respective countries in time for the travel ban.
Pakistan entertain hosts Zimbabwe at Sunrise Sports Club this morning. The USA are at home against Thailand at Old Hararians Sports Club while Sri Lanka and West Indies tussle out at Harare Sports Club.
“It is a catch22 situation, and the players want to play. They feel their safety and health is guaranteed in Zimbabwe, where they are in a safe bubble. It is still early days yet to conclude what will happen because, in their wisdom, ICC would certainly want the tournament played to its logical conclusion, but they can’t tamper with the safety and health of players,” the source said.
“A far-fetched suggestion probably will be the Zimbabwe government giving an assurance that it will be able to transport all the teams back on a charter after the conclusion of games, but it just remains a wild suggestion for now.”
