The COVID-19 pandemic began to pay a toll on the sporting calendar with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday, postponing this year’s qualification events for two different tournaments due to the global health crisis.
The ICC has postponed September ‘s Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 series to be hosted in Namibia and the U-19 Cricket World Cup Regional Qualifier Division 2 due to take place in August in Tanzania. Advertising
The World Cup Series 2, which was to be held in Namibia in September, was part of the 2023 World Cup qualification – involving Namibia, Papua New Guinea and the United States, the ICC said in a statement.
The U-19 World Cup Regional Qualifier Division 2 in Africa was due to take place in Tanzania between August 7 and 14, involving Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and the host country.
The ICC said that its priority continues to be to secure the well-being of players , coaches, officials, fans and the cricket community as a whole.
“With ongoing international travel restrictions, global health concerns still prominent and on government and public health authority advice in relation to COVID-19 we have decided in partnership with members, to postpone two further qualifying events,” ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said.
The governing body of the game also said that the remaining U19 World Cup Regional Qualifier Division 2 event in Asia scheduled for 1-9 December in Thailand is being monitored and kept under review.
On Monday, the ICC postponed the T20 World Cup, which was originally scheduled to take place in Australia in October-November of this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In addition, the 2023 50-overs World Cup in India was moved from March-April to the November window to allow more room for the qualification process.
