Zimbabwe’s Tour Of Ireland From August 6 Has Been Rescheduled

Jul 23, 2021 at 5:02 PM

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Zimbabwe’s Tour Of Ireland From August 6 Has Been Rescheduled

Zimbabwe’s tour of Ireland, which was scheduled to start on August 6 next month, has been rescheduled, Cricket Ireland announced on Thursday (July 22). The visitors were to play three ODIs and five T20Is in Belfast and Northern Ireland.

Cricket Ireland, on Thursday, announced that their upcoming white-ball series against Zimbabwe has been postponed due to the travel guidelines in the country and the health department’s advice. However, Warren Deutrom has assured the Zimbabwe Cricket Board to provide revised dates very soon.

Zimbabwe will now play five T20Is in Ireland
Zimbabwe will now play five T20Is in Ireland © Getty

Zimbabwe’s Tour To Island Will Need To Be Rescheduled: Warren Deutrom

In light of the advice given by Nothern Ireland’s health department, Cricket Ireland has decided to postpone their home series against Zimbabwe.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel restrictions in the country along with the quarantine rules meant the visitors would find it difficult to make it through the tour as their home series against Bangladesh ends on July 25 and the country is also marked on the red list of the UK.

“Following the latest advice for the conditions around which scheduled matches may proceed in Northern Ireland – most notably the stipulations of health authorities around quarantining requirements of the incoming Zimbabwean squad – Cricket Ireland has today confirmed that the Zimbabwe Men’s tour to Ireland will need to be rescheduled,” Cricket Ireland Chief Executive Warren Deutrom said.

Cricket Ireland
Cricket Ireland

“We recognize that with Zimbabwe being on the UK Red List, but a Category 2 country in the Republic of Ireland classification, approval for the series was always conditional upon the evolving advice of the government.”

The visitors, after their home series against Bangladesh, was to start the tour in Belfast with the opening ODI. Ireland was set to host Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series starting on August 6 in Belfast, Northern Ireland followed by second and final ODI on August 8 and 11 respectively before moving to Magheramason, Northern Ireland for the five-match T20I series beginning on August 15.

But Zimbabwe is on the United Kingdom’s red list due to the rising COVID-19 cases – which means only British and Ireland nationals or British residents are only allowed to enter from red list countries, forcing Cricket Ireland to reschedule the home series.

Warren Deutrom: It’s Anticipated That The Zimbabwe-Ireland Series Will Be Held In August September 2021

The teams were to move to Northern Ireland post the next two ODIs for three T20Is before returning to Belfast for the final leg for the tour. Cricket Ireland, however, stressed the tour is likely to go ahead later next month.

“It is now anticipated that the series will be held in August-September 2021, but that some venue changes may be required to accommodate the latest advice received. These changes may have a number of knock-on effects with the broader playing schedule as well, and the outcome of these changes will be communicated in due course,” Deutrom said.

“We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of Zimbabwe Cricket Board and all involved as we work through these latest challenges, and will provide updates as soon as possible.”

After the Bangladesh series, the Zimbabwe cricket team was expected to play Ireland in three ODIs and five T20Is respectively. The tour was scheduled to start on August 6 with the ODIs. The Cricket Ireland Chief Executive Warren Deutrom in his statement stated that the bilateral series will be rescheduled.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom
Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom

The tour was expected to conclude on August 24 but with the postponement, the series might be shifted in the August-September window depending on the COVID-19 guidelines in the country. Warren Deutrom thanked its counterpart for understanding the situation and promised to update the changes very soon.

Ireland is currently playing South Africa in the 3 matches T20I series, which they have lost already with the Proteas taking a lead of 2-0. On the other hand, Zimbabwe is playing against Bangladesh in the three-match T20I series.

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