Thailand’s women cricket team were denied an opportunity to debut in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup Inspite of topping in the group.
Also Read:- MCA to not allow full capacity crowd in Wankhede Stadium for the 2nd test
The qualifiers which were originally scheduled to take place till December 5 would have decided the final three spots for the ICC ODI World Cup in New Zealand next year.
However, the ICC called off the event after the detection of the new variant of Covid-19 named ‘Omicron’ in South Africa. The tournament was supposed to go on for a week more before the travel restrictions were imposed in the African countries including the host country Zimbabwe.
Since the Super sixes stage of the tournament not been played therefore the ICC has now decided to go as per the team’s rankings to decide the final three spots for the ODI World Cup. Thailand currently do not have a ODI status therefore they do not hold a ICC ranking now. Therefore, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies will now progress to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, with Sri Lanka and Ireland occupying the other slots for the 2022-25 cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship.
Chris Tetley who is the ICC head of events said: “We are incredibly disappointed to have to cancel the remainder of this event but with travel restrictions from a number of African countries being imposed at such short notice, there was a serious risk that teams would be unable to return home.”
“We have explored a number of options to allow us to complete the event but it isn’t feasible and we will fly the teams out of Zimbabwe as soon as possible. Bangladesh, Pakistan and the West Indies will now qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 by virtue of their rankings, whilst Sri Lanka and Ireland will also join them in the next cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship,” he added.
Also Read:- India’s tour of South Africa in doubt after the detection of the new Covid-19 variant in SA
Thailand have beaten Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and USA in the recently aborted tournament and were standing at the top of the table in Group B.
Also Read:- VIDEO: Mushfiqur Rahim makes weird faces after the ball hits his thigh