The ODI between USA and Ireland has been postponed by a day due to a few more positive Covid cases in the camp. The first ODI, which was originally scheduled on December 26, was cancelled after some match officials were tested Covid positive. Now the rescheduled 2nd ODI will be played on December 29 and followed by another ODI the next day.
A media release by Cricket Ireland confirmed the developments. The players and all the staff members from both sides will undergo another round of testing on Tuesday.
“The One-Day International in the Dafabet USA v Ireland Men’s International Series scheduled for tomorrow has been pushed back by one day to Wednesday 29 December, due to a small number of new positive COVID cases within the playing and support staff groups,” a Cricket Ireland media release said.
“All of the remaining players and support staff have undergone a full suite of antigen testing this evening, all with negative results. If both teams can complete an additional set of negative testing tomorrow, then the series will proceed with the amended dates of 29 December and 30 December. The final match in the series will remain as scheduled on Thursday 30 December which is a Day/Night fixture with a 2 pm start,” the release added.
Earlier both sides played 2-match T20I series which ended on 1-1. Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker played a blinder of knock 84(56) to level the T20I series. He also scored a fifty in the first match when Ireland failed to chase the target of 189
“The three umpires who were initially deemed as close contacts to the one positive case in the umpiring group have now all tested negative, and these three umpires now await final ICC confirmation to officiate on 29 and 30 December.”
Following this series, Ireland is set to tour West Indies to play 3 ODIs and 1 T20I starting from January 8. The only T20I could be the farewell match for Chris Gayle. The legendary West Indies player wished to play his final international game in front of his home crowd at Kingston, Jamaica.