USA vs Ireland ODI series cancelled due to Coronavirus, three Irish players test positive

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the USA vs Ireland ODI series to be canceled. After the two Twenty20 Internationals were level 1-1, the ODI series had to be canceled with rising coronavirus cases in Florida. The situation was compounded further when three Ireland players also tested positive for COVID-19. Paul Stirling, Shane Getkate, and George Dockrell all tested positive for the coronavirus.

The United States has been ravaged by the Omicron variant, with 565,000 cases in the last 24 hours. The US is the worst-affected country in the coronavirus pandemic. Florida alone has reported 58,000 cases in the last 24 hours. Ireland will play a series in the West Indies consisting of three ODIs and one Twenty20 International from January 9.

Big losses for USA as well as Ireland

The coronavirus positive results for Stirling, Getkate, and Dockrell have all thrown a spanner into the team composition heading into the West Indies series. Stirling and Getkate will be in isolation for 10 days. They can leave for Jamaica after showing a negative RT-PCR Test. Some members of the Ireland backroom staff have also tested positive.

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For the USA, this cancellation has dealt a big blow to their finances. According to a report in Cricbuzz, USA Cricket initially budgeted out close to USD 350,000 for this tournament. This series was outside the ICC’s Future Tours Program. But, the expenditures in the series have gone close to USD 500,000. This has apparently exhausted their 2022 budget and put further turmoil in their plans.

A statement by Ireland cricket said the decision to call off the tour was a tough one. “From a broader perspective, consideration had to be given to the current series as well as the second leg of our tour. We need to be mindful of travel requirements for entering Jamaica and meeting Cricket West Indies Covid protocols. Over the coming days, we will prioritize the health and safety of our players and staff. We will work with local officials in ensuring our people are well looked after whether preparing to travel onward to Jamaica or having to remain in Florida a little longer in isolation,” Cricket Ireland’s High-Performance Director Richard Holdsworth stated.

Future series for Ireland

Apart from the series against West Indies, Ireland will play a Test, five ODIs, and three T20Is in Zimbabwe. New Zealand, Afghanistan, and South Africa will then visit Ireland for Tests, ODIs, and Twenty20 Internationals. New Zealand and Afghanistan will play historic Tests in Ireland around the period of June and July.

Ireland will then tour Bangladesh and also participate in the ICC World T20 2022. The Irish will travel to Sri Lanka in 2023 to be in a tri-series along with South Africa.