THE match between West Indies and Sri Lanka scheduled for Harare Sports Club has been called off.
West Indies refused to take to the field in protest over Covid-19 confirmed cases within the Sri Lanka camp. They feared for their health and safety, prompting the match to be abandoned without a ball being bowled.
The ICC reported that three Sri Lankan players tested positive for Covid-19 on the eve of the tournament. They were, however placed in isolation.
“The players tested positive following a screening of all team members after one player showed mild symptoms, as per the bio-secure protocols in place to ensure the safety of all participants in the nine-team,” read the ICC statement.
“Two of the players are experiencing mild symptoms, whilst the third is asymptomatic. All three are isolating and receiving the appropriate medical care.”
However, Entersportnews can exclusively reveal that the new cases have hit the Sri Lanka camp that caused their match against West Indies to be abandoned.
ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley said the composition of teams for this tournament provides cover in eventualities such as injuries or sickness.
“We have playing squads of 15 at the event, which allows for injuries and illness, including Covid-19 to be managed, and in addition, teams have had the option of bringing travelling reserves with them,” Tetley said.
“The event biosecurity plan provides us with protocols to manage positive tests effectively to enable the event to proceed whilst keeping all other players and participants safe.”
