DUBAI: The ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021 in Zimbabwe has been abandoned with the emergence of the latest Covid-19 variant in South Africa and the introduction of travel restrictions from a number of African countries, including the host country Zimbabwe reported ICC today. The third fixture for today, between the West Indies and Sri Lanka, could not be staged as a member of the Sri Lanka team support staff tested positive for COVID-19
The tournament, was scheduled to be played till 5 December, would have decided the final three spots for the ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand next year as well as the remaining two berths in the next cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship. Since the ICC has decided to call off the event, the qualification slots would be decided as per team rankings.
Hence, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the West Indies will now progress to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, with Sri Lanka and Ireland occupying the other slots for the 2022-25 cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship.
“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. Bangladesh, Pakistan and the West Indies will now qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 by virtue of their rankings, whilst Sri Lanka and Ireland will also join them in the next cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship,” Chris Tetley, the ICC Head of Events explained in a press release. (RZ)
