The opening one-dayer of the historic USA-Ireland series had to be cancelled in the most unfortunate circumstances. The game scheduled to be held on Boxing Day got called off amid health security fears after a match official tested positive for the coronavirus.
The decision was taken after three other match officials appointed for the series were identified as “close contacts” of the match official who tested positive. With these three officials also unavailable to officiate the fixture, the authorities had no option but to cancel the fixture.
The cancellation of the first ODI had threatened to jeopardise the entire series but, USA Cricket was confident of securing an alternate set of officials in time for the second and the third one-dayer to go ahead as scheduled.
The next two matches “will go ahead as planned, with an alternative match official group if required” on December 28 and 30 at Lauderhill Park in Florida, a media release has confirmed.
The USA board has also confirmed that those spectators who bought tickets for the first ODI “may re-use their tickets for any additional match in the series”. Plus, if they can’t attend any other match of the series, they’ll be refunded the money worth their ticket within the seven working days.
This isn’t, however, the first time that the ongoing Ireland tour of the USA has been affected the virus. At a time when the virus’ dangerous variant Omicron has only piled on the threat on cricket all over the world, the news of four Irish players and one support staff member testing positive on December 17 was hardly welcoming. Then only four days later, four members of the USA camp also returned positive.
Despite all this, the short two-match T20I series went ahead, with USA winning the opening game on December 22. It was USA’s first-ever victory over a Test-playing nation and an ICC full member country.
At one point during the second T20I played on December 23, they looked like favourites to clinch the series 2-0. But then, greater experience helped Ireland avoid a major embarrassment as they came out on top by just nine runs.
