Pakistan-West Indies ODI series put off till June 2022 after COVID-19 setback

The ODI series between Pakistan and West Indies, which forms part of the ICC Men’s Cricket Word Cup Super League, has been pushed ahead to June 2022, a joint statement by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) said on Thursday.

The statement was issued after five more positive cases were reported in the West Indies camp following Wednesday’s PCR testing, raising the total number of positive cases to nine since their arrival in Karachi on December 9.

“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. All 21 members of the West Indies touring party returned negative test results. As such, Thursday’s T20 International (T20I) proceeded as planned.

“However, 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 [...] will be postponed and rescheduled for early June 2022," read the statement.

The statement said that this will provide the Windies "an equal opportunity to field their best available players for the World Cup qualification matches".

“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 statement said.

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.

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 statement added.

“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,” it concluded by saying.